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Python rejects $1.5m US government grant to avoid compromising ethics with
anti-DEI policies

Date:
Wed, 29 Oct 2025 14:02:00 +0000

Description:
Anti-DEI requirements pose enormous, open-ended financial risks, Python
Software Foundation argues.

FULL STORY

The Python Software Foundation has rejected a $1.5 million government grant 
in order to maintain its values and commitments to integrity. 

Pythons board voted unanimously to withdraw their application from what would
have been the largest grant in the organizations history in protest against
rules outlined by the US Government in accepting such awards. 

The Trump administrations anti-DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion)
requirements mean that any recipients of grants given by the National Science
Foundation must adhere to political requirements, not just to the security
work directly funded by the grant, but to any and all activity of the PSF as 
a whole - meaning Python would be forced to abandon any projects that might
fall under this umbrella.

Right to claw back 

The terms cited by the Python Software Foundation included the requirements
that it would not during the term of this financial assistance award, operate
any programs that advance or promote DEI, or discriminatory equity ideology 
in violation of Federal anti-discrimination laws. 

This means it would be unable to carry out its foundational mission 
statements goal to support and facilitate the growth of a diverse and
international community of Python programmers, - a commitment entirely
incompatible with the restrictive conditions of the grant. 

Further, violation of this term gave the NSF the right to claw back 
previously approved and transferred funds. This would create a situation 
where money wed already spent could be taken back, which would be an 
enormous, open-ended financial risk, the Python Software Foundation continued
in its statement. 

This isnt the first time the Trump administrations attempts to control and
manipulate private companies into aligning with the current administrations
political vision have fallen flat, with non-profit organization The
Carpentries also withdrawing a similar application so that it could continue
to support and educate underrepresented students in outreach, recruitment, 
and participation programs. 

The National Science Foundation isnt the only department to employ strict
political restrictions to its grant programs, either. The Department of
Homeland Security also indicated that election security funding would be
withheld from states if they didnt comply with voting policy goals - making
the funds inaccessible for most of the country. 

This represents a serious and concerning move towards authoritarianism, with
the President and administration holding necessary funding hostage in order 
to tightly control the political direction of private and public 
organizations alike. 

======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/python-rejects-usd1-5m-us-government-grant-to-av
oid-compromising-ethics-with-anti-dei-policies

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