In a bold move to curb unnecessary spending, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced on Thursday that it terminated 239 contracts deemed "wasteful" over a whirlwind two-day period. With a combined ceiling value of $1.7 billion, these cancellations are projected to save taxpayers a hefty $400 million, according to a DOGE statement shared on X. Among the axed agreements was a quirky grant aimed at educating transgender and queer urban farmers in the San Francisco Bay Area about "food justice" and sustainable market practices.

A Closer Look at the Canceled Contracts

The terminated contracts spanned a range of eyebrow-raising initiatives. One notable cut was an $8.5 million consulting deal focused on "fiscal stewardship." The project promised to overhaul management practices, boost innovation, and reskill employees to streamline business services—yet DOGE deemed it an inefficient use of funds. Meanwhile, earlier in the week, the National Institutes of Health pulled the plug on several federally funded studies tied to transgender and sexual identity topics. These included a $699,000 study on cannabis use among gender-diverse and sexual minority individuals, a $620,000 program promoting pregnancy prevention for transgender boys, and a $225,000 exploration of hormone-related headaches in transmasculine teens at the University of Colorado.

Targeting Niche Agricultural Grants

On Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins highlighted the cancellation of a $379,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant. This funding, originally allocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, was meant to teach queer, transgender, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) urban farmers and consumers about food justice and "values-aligned" markets. Rollins and DOGE argued that such niche programs fail to deliver broad value, marking them as prime targets for elimination in the push for government efficiency.

Why It Matters: Efficiency Over Excess

The swift action by DOGE signals a broader mission to rethink how taxpayer dollars are spent. By targeting what they call "wasteful spending," the department is prioritizing fiscal responsibility over experimental or hyper-specialized projects. The savings—$400 million and counting—could redirect resources to more pressing national needs, though critics may argue these cuts overlook the value of diversity-focused research and community programs.

What’s Next for Government Spending?

With 239 contracts already scrapped, DOGE’s aggressive approach to slashing inefficiency is gaining attention. Taxpayers and policymakers alike are watching closely to see which projects will face the chopping block next—and whether this strategy will truly reshape government spending for the better.