Winona State University loses $1.1M Federal Grant For Civic Engagement, Public Service

Winona State University loses $1.1M Federal Grant For Civic Engagement, Public Service

The grant was tossed out by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.

Winona State University has lost a $1.1 million grant from the United States Department of Defense that it was says was designed to promote civic engagement.

The university received notice of the termination of the grant on Feb. 28, according to a WSU spokesperson. The letter references Code of Federal Regulations language that a federal award is subject to termination if the "award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities."

The grant is part of $80 million in federal funds cut by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced earlier this week. The agency claims the funds slashed have been "wasted on programs that do not support [the Department of Defense's] core mission."

A spokesperson for the university tells Bring Me The News the funds were intended to form a Civic Center unit that promotes engagement "among students, faculty, local government entities in the region, and nonprofit organizations."

The university provided the following official statement regarding the terminated grant:

Winona State initially was awarded the grant in August 2024 by the Biden administration. The Civic Center held a series of events titled "Promoting Civility Through Dialogue" and launched an internship program to provide hands-on work experience for students from various majors. It also partnered with SE MN Together, a group of current and former local government administrators and employees, educators and leaders of nonprofit organizations who "work to strengthen regional connections and build local capacity to solve their communities' issues."

A spokesperson says a speaker series was planned this spring on civic engagement, civility and public service. Community dialogues were also in the works with topics ranging from transportation coordination, building welcoming and inclusive communities, affordable housing and cooperation on regional development.

"Although we are deeply disappointed, we are determined to keep moving forward. The purpose of the Civic Center is to bring students and the community together to solve public issues, and we will continue to do that in whatever capacity is available to us," the WSU Civic Center said on Facebook.

SOURCE: Bring Me The News