US Federal Agencies Obligated $230 Million Across 249 Grants Referencing Intersectionality

The Defense of Freedom Institute and Legal Insurrection Foundation identified the awards by searching federal databases for the term intersectionality. Funding accelerated after 2021, concentrated in health equity, diabetes research, cancer control, and faculty diversity programs at state agencies and universities. Roughly 100 awards remain active, some extending obligations through 2030. Agencies treated the framework as one component within larger projects rather than the sole objective.

Primary records show grants to the New Hampshire Department of Health, New York University, and Drexel University incorporated references to intersecting disparities in gender, income, or race when defining target populations. This pattern aligns with Biden-era executive directives that directed agencies to embed equity metrics into grant criteria. The approach created administrative incentives for recipients to adopt the terminology to secure funding streams.

The documented costs include potential exposure to equal-protection challenges when grant decisions track protected characteristics. Countervailing gains for agencies include expanded applicant pools and compliance with internal diversity mandates. Under the current administration, new obligations have already fallen while existing multi-year awards continue to draw down appropriated funds.

Future action hinges on executive review of active awards and any congressional restrictions on grant language. Termination or re-scoping of the remaining $90 million would require agency-level audits and possible litigation from recipients.