U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the cancellation of seven university grants, totaling $54 million, on Friday. The grants, aimed at projects related to sustainability, social equity, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), were described by Duffy as “wasteful” and aligned with what he called a “green agenda” and “radical DEI” approach that he believes detracts from the core mission of the Department of Transportation.

The universities affected by the cancellations and their corresponding grant amounts are:

University of California, Davis – $12 million for research on “accelerating equitable decarbonization.”

City College of New York – Approximately $9 million for “equitable transportation for the disadvantaged workforce.”

University of Southern California – About $9 million for a study on how “the transportation system creates and perpetuates inequities.”

New York University – $6 million for providing “e-bikes to low-income travelers in transit deserts.”

San Jose State University – Around $6 million for research on “intermodal inequities, particularly how improvements to auto travel benefit higher-income communities.”

University of New Orleans – $6 million for research on “equitable transit-oriented communities” and “how neighborhood stabilization supports environmental justice.”

Johns Hopkins University – $6 million for research on “hyperlocal pollution exposure inequalities in New York City.”

In a statement, Duffy condemned the previous administration’s focus on DEI and sustainability, calling it a diversion from the Department’s core priorities. He stated that his leadership would focus on transportation-related goals such as “safety, improving travel, and constructing large infrastructure projects.”

“These grants were in conflict with the transportation priorities of the American people,” Duffy said. “It’s time to bring a dose of reality back into our higher education system by ending these divisive and unnecessary grants.”

This decision marks a shift in the Department’s funding approach, prioritizing practical infrastructure development over sustainability and social equity initiatives. While critics argue that the move could undermine vital research in areas like environmental justice and accessible transportation, the policy change could influence the future direction of federally supported academic research in the field of transportation.