Trump Administration Halts $1.25M in Grants for LGBTQ, Minority Heritage Projects, Raising Legal Concerns

The Trump administration has frozen $1.25 million in congressionally approved grants intended to support projects documenting LGBTQ and other underrepresented communities, a move that experts say may violate federal law.

According to Washington Blade, the National Park Service (NPS) announced the awards in January as part of its Underrepresented Communities Grant Program, established in 2014 to expand the National Register of Historic Places. The 2025 round included 20 projects across 17 states and Washington, D.C., with three specifically tied to LGBTQ history.

Days after the grants were unveiled, President Donald Trump signed executive orders creating the Department of Government Efficiency, tasked with reviewing federal programs and cutting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The review halted the NPS disbursements, leaving recipients in limbo.

Among the affected organizations are the D.C. Preservation League, awarded $75,000 to document LGBTQ sites in the capital; the Providence Preservation Society in Rhode Island, awarded nearly $75,000 to survey queer history in the city; and the Fund for the City of New York, granted $32,000 to nominate civil rights leader Bayard Rustin’s residence as a National Historic Landmark.

Leaders of those groups told the Washington Blade they have not received any funding or guidance. “You can’t tell the nation’s history without telling everyone’s history,” said Rebecca Miller of the D.C. Preservation League, noting that prior NPS grants helped designate landmarks such as the Kameny House and the Slowe-Burrill House.

Legal experts warn the freeze could breach the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which bars presidents from withholding appropriated funds without congressional approval. “Congress has the control of the purse under Article I of the Constitution,” said George Washington University law professor Robert L. Glicksman. “Any attempt by the president to ignore congressional instructions presents a separation of powers issue.”

The NPS responded to inquiries with a brief statement, saying pending obligations are under review for compliance with executive orders. If the funds are not released before the fiscal year ends Sept. 30, the administration could face fresh challenges over executive overreach — echoing disputes that led to Trump’s first impeachment.