Judge rules DOGE illegally used ChatGPT to cancel federal grants
Original: Judge rules DOGE used ChatGPT in a way that was both dumb and illegal / The ruling restores federal grants that were shut down for ‘DEI’ prejudice.
Why This Matters
Sets legal precedent for AI use in government decision-making and civil rights
US District Judge ruled DOGE's cancellation of over $100 million in federal grants unconstitutional. The department used ChatGPT to scan and eliminate grants based on diversity, equity, and inclusion keywords, affecting National Endowment for the Humanities funding.
US District Judge Colleen McMahon issued a 143-page ruling Thursday declaring the Department of Government Efficiency's grant cancellations unconstitutional. DOGE staffers Justin Fox and Nate Cavanaugh eliminated 97% of National Endowment for the Humanities grants, using ChatGPT with standardized prompts to identify DEI-related content. Fox testified he used ChatGPT to 'highlight why a grant may relate to DEI' and 'pull out anything related to DEI' based on race, national origin, religion, and sexuality characteristics. The ruling stems from a 2025 lawsuit filed by humanities groups challenging the process.