U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the cancellation of a $600,000 federal grant intended to fund a study on menstrual cycles in transgender men, sparking a mix of reactions across political and social spheres.
The decision, reported by mainstream outlets such as Yahoo News and Fox News, reflects a broader push to reassess federal spending priorities under the new administration.
According to Yahoo News, the Department of Agriculture terminated the grant on Friday, and Rollins confirmed the move on the social media platform X.
“CANCELLED: $600,000 grant to study ‘menstrual cycles in transgender men,'” she wrote, adding, “The insanity is ending and the restoration of America is underway.”
The study, initially uncovered by the conservative nonprofit American Principles Project, was one of over 340 federal grants issued during the Biden administration, collectively totaling more than $128 million, aimed at various research initiatives.
Fox News reported that the grant description highlighted the biological context of menstruation, noting that it typically begins around age 12 and ends with menopause around age 51, averaging about 450 periods over a woman’s lifetime.
The description also acknowledged that “transgender men and people with masculine gender identities, intersex, and non-binary persons may also menstruate,” framing the study as an effort to explore this phenomenon.
However, critics questioned its relevance to the Department of Agriculture’s mission, which traditionally focuses on farming, food production, and rural development.
The cancellation aligns with a broader pattern of scrutiny over federal contracts. Yahoo News noted that the American Principles Project had flagged other grants, including a $230,000 allocation for a “Brazilian Forest and Gender Consultant,” as examples of what they deemed wasteful spending.
Rollins credited the group for bringing the menstrual cycle study to her attention, suggesting a collaborative effort to redirect taxpayer funds.
Public reaction, as reflected in posts on X, ranged from outrage to confusion. Some users questioned how the study related to agriculture, with one asking, “How does this relate to agriculture?!
And who cares?!” Others expressed frustration over accountability, with comments like, “Who pocketed this money? People need to be held accountable for these ridiculous grants.”
While these sentiments are not conclusive evidence, they underscore a current of skepticism about government-funded research.
The decision comes amid a politically charged climate, with Rollins, appointed by President Donald Trump, signaling a shift toward fiscal conservatism.
Neither Yahoo News nor Fox News detailed the study’s original intent beyond its basic description, leaving open questions about its scientific merits or potential beneficiaries.
However, the cancellation marks a tangible step in reshaping the Department of Agriculture’s agenda as of March 9, 2025.
This move is likely to fuel ongoing debates about the role of federal agencies in funding niche research, particularly when it intersects with gender identity and public health—topics that remain divisive in American discourse.
For now, the $600,000 will stay out of the hands of researchers, redirecting attention to what Rollins and her supporters herald as a restoration of practical governance.
