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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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