Discovery Reveals DOGE Used ChatGPT to Cancel Humanities Grants

Lawsuit alleges DOGE violated laws, Constitution in terminating NEH funding for schools, libraries, and community groups

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Discovery documents in a lawsuit filed by humanities groups reveal that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) used a flawed ChatGPT process to identify "DEI programs" and inform decisions to terminate grants awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The lawsuit alleges DOGE violated the First Amendment, Equal Protection Clause, and separation of powers in carrying out the grant terminations without legal authority.

Why it matters

The NEH has been a cornerstone investor in advancing and making accessible humanities knowledge and programs across the United States for over 50 years. The lawsuit alleges the DOGE's actions have threatened access to vital public programming and research for millions of Americans.

The details

The filing by the plaintiffs - the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the American Historical Association (AHA), and the Modern Language Association (MLA) - included depositions showing DOGE team members made funding decisions despite lacking legal authority, used the unauthorized messaging app Signal to communicate about the process in violation of federal records laws, and terminated grants that NEH staff concluded did not conflict with new policies. DOGE fed grant descriptions into ChatGPT, asking it to identify "DEI" programs, then used the AI-generated list to terminate projects including a Holocaust documentary, an Italian American archives project, and Native American language preservation efforts.

  • The lawsuit was filed on May 1, 2025.
  • The discovery documents were made available on March 6, 2026 as part of a motion for summary judgment.

The players

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

A federal agency that led the termination of previously awarded NEH grants, despite lacking legal authority to do so.

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

An independent federal agency established in 1965 to support research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities.

American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)

A nonprofit federation of 81 scholarly organizations that is a plaintiff in the lawsuit against DOGE and the NEH.

American Historical Association (AHA)

A plaintiff in the lawsuit, representing the interests of historians and the historical discipline.

Modern Language Association (MLA)

A plaintiff in the lawsuit, representing the interests of language and literature scholars.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The principle that knowledge of history, literature, religion, philosophy, and the arts is necessary to sustain a strong and resilient nation drove Congress to establish the NEH. Our lawsuit reveals this administration's contempt for that principle and for public investment in research for the common good. DOGE employees' use of ChatGPT to identify 'wasteful' grants is perhaps the biggest advertisement for the need for humanities education, which builds skills in critical thinking.”

— Joy Connolly, ACLS President

“The manner in which NEH grants were terminated is in direct opposition to the agency's founding legislation, which asserted that 'it is necessary and appropriate for the Federal Government to help create and sustain...a climate encouraging freedom of thought, imagination, and inquiry.' Terminating the grants of scholars and institutions for reasons ranging from the nature of the questions posed to the race or gender of the historical figures they intended to study, quashes freedom of thought, stifles imagination, prevents inquiry, and thereby threatens the study of history and the humanities more broadly.”

— Sarah Weicksel, AHA Executive Director

“The facts in this case have exposed the administration's total disregard for the democratic process and for the value of the humanities that the NEH exists to promote. Through this lawsuit, we have been able to document in detail the haphazard and unlawful actions of DOGE as these unqualified agents undermined the separation of powers and denied the American people access to vital public programming and research.”

— Paula M. Krebs, MLA Executive Director

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to grant the plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, which could restore the unlawfully terminated NEH grant funding.

The takeaway

This case highlights the dangers of using AI systems like ChatGPT to make decisions about public funding and programming, especially when it comes to the humanities. It also underscores the critical role of the NEH in supporting research, education, and public access to knowledge that is essential for a healthy democracy.