DOGE says seven grants for trans animal testing canceled, audits expanded: ‘Shady expenditures happening

DOGE Cancels Seven Grants for Trans Animal Testing, Expands Audits Amid Concerns of “Shady Expenditures”

The Department of Government Ethics (DOGE) has announced the cancellation of seven grants related to trans animal testing, citing financial irregularities and expanding audits into additional research programs. The decision follows internal reviews that uncovered what officials described as “shady expenditures” linked to the projects.

DOGE, a watchdog agency responsible for ensuring transparency in government-funded research, began investigating the grants after whistleblower reports raised concerns about potential misuse of funds. The agency discovered inconsistencies in financial reporting, including unapproved expenses and a lack of proper oversight in studies involving transgenic animals—genetically modified organisms used in medical and biological research.

While DOGE has not disclosed the exact nature of the studies affected, sources indicate that the projects involved genetic modifications in laboratory animals to study gender-related biological processes. Some grants reportedly lacked clear scientific justifications, prompting DOGE to pull funding and launch expanded audits across multiple institutions receiving similar research grants.

“Shady Expenditures” Under Review

A spokesperson for DOGE stated that the agency is now broadening its audit scope to examine whether other federally funded projects are also mismanaging resources. “We’ve identified multiple red flags in the spending reports, which suggest that there may be more widespread financial misconduct,” the spokesperson said. “Our priority is to ensure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly and ethically.”

Officials have not specified which universities, private labs, or organizations were affected, but they confirmed that grant recipients will be required to return any misallocated funds.

Ethical and Political Implications

The cancellation of these grants has sparked mixed reactions within the scientific and political communities. Some researchers argue that transgenic animal testing is essential for medical advancements, including studies on hormonal treatments and genetic therapies. Others, however, believe that greater oversight is necessary to prevent wasteful spending and ensure ethical research practices.

Critics of the grants have also questioned whether certain studies were receiving funding due to political influences rather than scientific merit. “There’s a fine line between necessary research and reckless spending,” said one ethics advocate. “We need to be sure that taxpayer money is going toward projects that have real medical and societal benefits.”

What Happens Next?

DOGE has confirmed that it will continue reviewing similar grants to determine if further action is needed. Institutions involved in the canceled projects will have the opportunity to appeal the decision, but they must provide detailed justifications for their funding requests.

In the meantime, federal agencies overseeing scientific research are expected to tighten grant approval processes and auditing protocols to prevent future cases of mismanaged funds.

As the investigation unfolds, the controversy surrounding these grants highlights the ongoing debate over government-funded animal research, ethical boundaries, and financial transparency.