Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently discovered millions of dollars worth of federal contracts that have been cut amid efforts to scale back government spending. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the agency had ended roughly 80 contracts including a Brazilian forest and gender consultant who was being paid $229,000.
According to Rollins, the 78 contracts that were active under the Biden administration represented approximately $132 million and more than 1,000 contracts are still being reviewed. Prior to the news, DOGE had reportedly just led a review of the agency, which Rollins said is assisting the Department of Agriculture root out wasteful spending.
“I welcome DOGE’s efforts at USDA because we know that its work makes us better, stronger, faster, and more efficient. I will expect full access and transparency to DOGE in the days and weeks to come,” Rollins said. The secretary has also moved to roll back all diversity, equity, and inclusion, programs within the department, vowing to restore meritocracy.
Among the $132 million worth of contracts that were terminated, there was $374,000 for a diversity, equity, and inclusion onboarding specialist, $254,000 for diversity dialogue workshops, $298,000 for international development for historically underrepresented communities, $229,000 for a Brazilian forest and gender consultant, $121,000 for a women and forest carbon initiative mentorship program and $29,000 for a Central American gender assessment consultant.
The American Tribune recently reported on other major news from the Trump administration as it clawed back approximately $80 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding that was granted to New York City to house migrants in hotels. According to reports, the administration yanked a $59 million grant and another $21.5 million that was given to the city.
NYC Comptroller Brand Lander claimed the money had disappeared overnight. Slamming the Trump administration, he said, “I call on the Mayor to immediately pursue legal action to ensure the tens of millions of dollars stolen by Trump and DOGE are rightfully returned. If instead Mayor Adams continues to be President Trump’s pawn, my Office will request to work in partnership with the New York City Law Department to pursue aggressive legal action.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams added that he “learned about the federal government clawing back more than $80 million in FEMA grants applied for and awarded under the last administration, but not disbursed until last week.” He asserted, “While we conduct an internal investigation into how this occurred, our office has already engaged with the White House about recouping these funds and we’ve requested an emergency meeting with FEMA to try and resolve the matter as quickly as possible. The Corporation Counsel is already exploring various litigation options.”
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Furthermore, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spoke about the news recently on X. “I have clawed back the full payment that FEMA deep state activists unilaterally gave to NYC migrant hotels. FEMA was funding the Roosevelt Hotel that serves as a Tren de Aragua base of operations and was used to house Laken Riley’s killer. Mark my words: there will not be a single penny spent that goes against the interest and safety of the American people,” she said.
Watch Karoline Leavitt discuss a huge win for DOGE: