The Trump administration is trimming the USDA and slashing funding for state climate change programs, while Washington, Oregon and other blue states fight back and universities wait out a pause in agricultural research grants.

The USDA terminated 18 contracts totaling $9 million Monday, according to a post on X by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency. The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a source of university research grants, has suspended taking applications until further notice.

The USDA cuts were minor compared to cuts by other agencies. The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday it had implemented a Trump executive order by cutting 11 positions related to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, and 161 positions related to environmental justice.

Some 22 states are challenging the legality of Trump pausing grants to states. U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. in Rhode Island on Monday ordered the Trump administration to release federal funds appropriated to states, including money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.

The Trump administration accused McConnell, an Obama appointee, of trying to take control of federal spending and asked the First Circuit Court of Appeals to lift the order. The appeals court declined the request Tuesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, McConnell clarified the Trump administration could withhold funds if authorized by current law.

Trump said in a post on X he didn’t want to lose his momentum. “Billons of Dollars of FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE has already been found in the investigation of our incompetently run Government. Now certain activists and highly political judges want us to slow down or stop,” he said.

DOGE did not provide details about the terminated USDA grants, only saying that three funded “Central American gender assessment consultant services,” “Brazil forest and gender consultant services,” and the “women in forest carbon initiative mentorship program.”

USDA did not respond to a request for more details.

Trump’s agriculture secretary nominee Brooke Rollins thanked Musk. “Our farmers and ranchers and all Americans deserve so much better,” she said on X.

The federal pause has affected Irrigation districts, Washington State Water Resources Association executive director John Stuhlmiller said.

Irrigation districts rely on Bureau of Reclamation grants to fund maintenance projects. Stuhlmiller said he expects the bureau will resume funding projects it has already approved. “We’re pretty confident these dollars will go forward again,” he said.

Washington State University set up a website for faculty to track federal funding announcements. “Pay close attention to any communications you receive from funding agencies,” the website advised in bold letters.

The Trump administration has shut off numerous grants to Washington and Oregon related to climate change and the environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency has paused funding for a $156 million “solar for all” program to give low-income households and others rooftop solar panels, according to a court declaration by Washington Commerce Secretary Joe Nguyen.

The Department of Energy has suspended funding several other programs, including rebates to low-income ratepayers, according to Nguyen.

The Trump administration has paused funding six grants to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, according to DEQ policy and external affairs manager Matthew Davis.

The largest grant, $200 million, will fund rebates to electric vehicle buyers, electric vehicle charging stations, methane reductions at landfills and making homes more energy efficient.