Federal judge ruled DOGE grant cuts violated First and Fifth Amendments

A federal judge ruled on Thursday that cuts to hundreds of humanities grants ordered by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency were predicated on “blatant” discrimination and were unconstitutional. DOGE was initially headed by former Trump administration adviser Elon Musk.

U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York Colleen McMahon said the termination of the federal grants for the National Endowment for the Humanities violated the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution. Moreover, McMahon said DOGE officials had no authority to order such grant cuts.

“The Mass Termination is DECLARED unlawful, unconstitutional, ultra vires, and without legal effect,” wrote Judge McMahon, according to the official court documents. The termination of National Endowment for the Humanities grants challenged in this action was unlawful because it was undertaken in violation of the First Amendment, in violation of the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment, and without statutory authority.” 

“The Court