A Commentary on the Upending of DEI Research in STEM: A Testimonio on Grant Termination in the Sociopolitical Context

Recent actions in the U.S. have sought to curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts through policies that restrict DEI programs and offices and through the cancelation of research grants. In this commentary, I offer a testimonio to document how my federally funded project on racial microaggressions in STEM was defunded. The testimonio approach allows for a first-person account of lived experiences to address inequity embedded in social and political realities. I describe the nature of my project, the antecedents and consequences of the grant cancelation, and broader implications. Additionally, I address the sociopolitical context of grant terminations by the current administration and potential responses by our STEM community.