A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Government Efficiency acted unlawfully and unconstitutionally when it canceled the majority of federal humanities grants last year, including several focused on Jewish scholarship. The 143-page decision found that the agency, created under President Donald Trump, engaged in illegal viewpoint discrimination by targeting projects centered on Jewish history, culture, and women.

Judge Colleen McMahon sharply criticized the cancellation of grants related to Holocaust research and Jewish women, writing that the government cannot deny funding simply because it disfavors a particular perspective. She said it was deeply troubling that projects amplifying the voices of Jewish women subjected to Nazi persecution were deemed inappropriate because they focused on 'Jewish cultures' and 'female' voices.

Court proceedings revealed that many Jewish-related grants were flagged for elimination after being categorized under diversity, equity, and inclusion criteria using artificial intelligence software. The judge noted that grants concerning Black Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and women were similarly targeted, while some other Jewish projects remained funded.

The ruling orders the National Endowment for the Humanities to reinstate the terminated grants. The White House said it plans to appeal the decision, while the Authors Guild and other scholarly groups welcomed the outcome and pledged to ensure the grants are restored.