Feds Accuse State of Violating PREP Plans

California faces a stark choice: remove gender identity from sex education or lose $12.3 million in federal funding as the Trump administration takes decisive action against progressive curricula.

Key Takeaways

• The Trump administration has given California 60 days to remove all gender identity content from federally-funded sex education programs or lose $12.3 million in funding
• Federal officials argue that teaching gender identity is outside the scope of the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), which is specifically intended for education on abstinence and contraception
• California’s Department of Public Health is reviewing the directive while maintaining its curriculum is “medically accurate, comprehensive, and age-appropriate”
• This action aligns with broader Trump administration efforts to remove gender ideology from educational settings nationwide

Trump Administration Demands Removal of Gender Ideology

The Department of Health and Human Services has delivered an ultimatum to California: purge all references to gender identity from sex education programs or forfeit millions in federal funding. The directive specifically targets content funded through the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), which reaches approximately 13,000 youth annually across the state. Federal officials have identified materials discussing transgender and gender-queer identities, along with terminology like “cisgender” and “gender identity,” as falling outside the scope of PREP’s statutory mission.

Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison has given California 60 days to comply with the removal order or face losing over $12.3 million of its $18.2 million federal funding allocation over the next three years. The administration’s position is clear – federal dollars should not support content that deviates from PREP’s core purpose of educating adolescents about abstinence and contraception.

Federal Funding as a Policy Lever

The Trump administration has strategically leveraged federal funding to influence state policies, particularly regarding gender identity and transgender issues. While the federal government lacks direct authority over state curriculum matters, control of the purse strings provides significant influence. This approach represents a deliberate strategy to counter progressive policies in Democratic-led states like California that have embraced gender ideology in education.

“The Trump Administration will not tolerate the use of federal funds for programs that indoctrinate our children,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) letter explicitly states that the PREP statute “neither requires, supports nor authorizes teaching students that gender identity is distinct from biological sex.” The Trump administration has similarly threatened to withdraw Title IX funds from California if it continues to allow biological males to compete in girls’ athletic programs, demonstrating a consistent approach to enforcing traditional views on gender and sexuality through funding mechanisms.

California’s Response and What’s at Stake

California’s Department of Public Health has acknowledged receipt of the federal directive and is currently reviewing its contents. The state has defended its curriculum as medically accurate and previously approved by federal authorities. The challenge presents a significant dilemma for California officials, who must now choose between maintaining their progressive approach to sex education and potentially losing substantial federal funding that supports programs serving thousands of youth statewide.

“This is one place where they have some power, because it’s the power of the purse,” said Eva Goldfarb, explaining the federal government’s leverage in this situation.

The federal demand specifically targets content in Teen Talk Middle School and High School materials that define transgender and non-binary identities. California officials have noted that their curriculum aligns with positions from major medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recognizes diverse gender identities. However, the Trump administration’s stance prioritizes a biological understanding of sex over gender ideology, reflecting conservative values that resonate with many Americans concerned about progressive influence in education.