Trump Administration Cancels California Sex Education Grant
The Trump administration has decided to cancel a $12.3 million sex education grant intended for California. The reason? The grant was said to include what the administration calls “radical gender ideology.” This move came after state officials declined to alter the original documents.
This funding was slated to support various sex education programs in juvenile justice facilities, homeless shelters, foster homes, and select schools, projected to benefit around 13,000 young people annually across up to 20 institutions.
As of Thursday morning, state officials had no immediate comment regarding the federal decision. This was tied to a compliance deadline of 60 days.
Andrew Ground, the deputy director of the Children and Families Administration, asserted, “We cannot simply comply with federal law and strip away any offensive gender ideology from federally funded sexual education materials.” He emphasized that the administration is committed to ensuring children are not subjected to what he termed indoctrination with taxpayer funds.
California government officials maintained that the materials were appropriate and did not violate any terms associated with the federal grant.
Interestingly, California has not been accused of neglecting abstinence or birth control guidelines within grant-funded instruction. Rather, it includes extra content that the Trump administration deems offensive and not aligned with the grant’s objectives.
In a communication dated June 20, a senior official from California cited examples from middle school lesson plans to illustrate this point.
In an August 19 letter, the California Department of Public Health confirmed, “these changes will not be made at this time,” reinforcing that the content had already received approval from the same entity now calling for revisions. They described the teachings as both “medically accurate” and pertinent to educational goals, also questioning whether the Trump administration had the authority to cancel such grants.
While the amounts involved may be lesser than other ongoing litigative issues between California and the Trump administration, these conflicts echo a familiar legal landscape, with more than 30 lawsuits currently in play.
The termination of this grant highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding LGBTQ+ issues between the Trump administration and California. This reflects broader cultural conflicts that have been part of the discourse since a presidential order in January that recognized only two genders and enforced that perspective across federal departments.
In terms of youth sports, California has responded to federal pressures regarding transgender athletes by creating separate award categories for women’s events. This approach aims to ensure transgender athletes can compete without jeopardizing awards for other competitors. However, this still doesn’t address the various complexities around trans participation in team sports like volleyball.
The Trump administration has been clear that it will not recognize the measures California has implemented in an attempt to comply with federal directives.
In educational environments, the administration’s policies conflict with curricula that acknowledge more than just the traditional gender binary. Historically, federal influence over local educational frameworks has been minimal, but Trump has quickly exerted pressure through federal funding.
This situation particularly involves the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which manages a grant program distributing $75 million annually across the country.
According to Health and Human Services, California had received more than $18.2 million in funding for the fiscal year and, under the federal ruling, risks losing $102.3 million that has yet to be allocated, covering multiple years.
The federal grant supports California’s Personally Responsible Education Program (CAPREP), which aims to provide “comprehensive sexual health education for adolescents” using effective, evidence-backed program models.
The Trump administration hasn’t denied that the federal government had previously approved California’s materials but has criticized the current administration for permitting preparatory grants to incorporate concepts of gender ideology.
California law mandates that school districts deliver comprehensive sexual health education at least once for middle and high school students, including information on HIV prevention.
The Trump administration continues to advocate for full control over federal grants, including those currently in place. Many grant cancellations face legal challenges, with some upheld while others get blocked. Occasionally, Congress narrowly approves certain cancellations, impacting areas like foreign aid and public broadcasting.
