Federal government mandates California to abolish gender identity discussions from sex education curricula
In a contentious turn of events, the Trump administration has ordered California to remove gender identity materials from its sex education curriculum or risk losing over $12.3 million in federal grants. This directive comes from the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees a grant program that annually distributes $75 million nationally for adolescent education on abstinence and contraception.
The California Personal Responsibility Education Program (CA PREP) is at the heart of the dispute. This program provides comprehensive sexual health education to adolescents, reaching an estimated 13,000 youth per year through 20 agencies, including juvenile justice facilities, homeless shelters, and foster care group homes. CA PREP curricula have been federally pre-approved, according to the California department.
However, the Trump administration argues that the inclusion of gender identity materials is outside the scope of the grant's purpose. The California Department of Public Health defends the materials as "medically accurate, comprehensive, and age-appropriate."
This is not the first time the Trump administration and California have clashed over LGBTQ+ issues. The administration has also threatened to withhold federal funding unless California bars transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports, a demand that is part of a broader pattern of federal leverage tied to funding and Title IX enforcement.
The dispute extends beyond sex education, as the Trump administration is also pressing California on broader K-12 education funds, such as Title I and IDEA funding, which support resources for disadvantaged and disabled students. These funds amount to billions of dollars annually and have been caught up in the escalating conflict, with possibilities of withholding or cutting funding as leverage.
California's leadership has responded with legal challenges and political threats, though mechanisms for retaliation are complicated. The state could lose $12.3 million that it has not yet received, covering multiple years. California risks losing more than $12.3 million in federal grants if it does not comply within the given 60-day period.
Data shows that participants who completed CA PREP had a better understanding of sexual and reproductive health topics and improved health outcomes. The Trump administration, however, asserts that the Biden administration allowed PREP grants to be used to teach students "gender ideology."
The clash between the federal and state governments highlights a broader disagreement over LGBTQ+ policies, particularly transgender rights. As the Biden administration takes office, it remains to be seen how these disputes will unfold and whether California will comply with the federal demands or continue to challenge them in court.
- The California Department of Public Health argues that the materials on gender identity, included in the California Personal Responsibility Education Program (CA PREP), are medically accurate, comprehensive, and age-appropriate.
- The Trump administration's directive to remove gender identity materials from CA PREP's sex education curriculum might affect the learning of thousands of adolescents, as CA PREP curricula have shown to improve health outcomes.
- The CA PREP dispute is not isolated, as the Trump administration has also threatened to withhold federal funding from California if it does not bar transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports, a decision that aligns with broader policy-and-legislation trends emphasizing on sports.
- The broader K-12 education in California is also a point of contention, as the Trump administration is pressing California on funding for Title I and IDEA, programs that support resources for disadvantaged and disabled students, amounting to billions of dollars annually, and have become part of the ongoing escalating conflict.
