A post shared on Facebook claims the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has purportedly cut an $82 million grant to Tyson Foods to “develop ‘sustainable insect proteins’ to replace beef and pork.”

Verdict: False

The claim is false and originally stems from a March 19 post shared by “America’s Last Line of Defense,” which is a satirical Facebook page.

Fact Check:

U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander recently blocked DOGE from obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) data, which includes individuals’ identifying information, according to CNN. Hollander accused DOGE of going on a “fishing expedition” while in search of suspected fraud at the SSA, the outlet reported.

The Facebook post claims DOGE has purportedly cut an $82 million grant to Tyson Foods to “develop ‘sustainable insect proteins’ to replace beef and pork.”

“Regardless how someone might feel about [Tesla CEO and DOGE lead Elon] Musk, not one dollar should go to something like this. Americans are never going to switch from steak to bugs,” the post adds.

The claim is false and originally stems from a March 19 post shared by “America’s Last Line of Defense,” which is a satirical Facebook page. The Facebook page describes itself as “the flagship of the ALLOD network of trollery and propaganda for cash” before reiterating that “nothing on this page is real.” The original post has received over 200 likes as of writing. (RELATED: Image Purporting To Show NASA Astronauts With Trump And Musk Is AI-Generated)

Likewise, Check Your Fact did not find the claim referenced on DOGE’s website or its verified X account @DOGE. Musk has not commented on the claim via his verified X account @elonmusk. Tyson Foods has not issued a press release or a social media statement responding to the claim, either.

In addition, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports to support the claim. Although the claim is false, Tyson Foods announced a strategic investment partnership with Protix, a global insect ingredients company, back in October 2023.

Check Your Fact has contacted Tyson Foods for comment.