The Trump administration delivers a $12.3 million ultimatum to California: remove gender identity content from sex education or lose federal funding entirely.
Key Takeaways
- The Department of Health and Human Services has given California 60 days to eliminate all gender identity references from its sex education curriculum or forfeit over $12.3 million in federal funding.
- Federal officials assert that teaching gender identity as distinct from biological sex exceeds the scope of the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), which should focus solely on abstinence and contraception.
- California’s Department of Public Health maintains that its curriculum is “medically accurate, comprehensive, and age-appropriate” and was previously approved by federal authorities.
- This directive is part of a broader Trump administration effort to eliminate what it calls “ideological agendas” from education using federal funding as leverage.
- Similar funding threats have been made regarding California’s policies allowing transgender athletes in girls’ sports programs.
Trump Administration Draws the Line on Gender Ideology
The Trump administration has taken decisive action against California’s progressive sex education curriculum, demanding the removal of all “gender ideology” content or face the loss of significant federal funding. In a letter dated June 20, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) ordered California to purge any mention of gender identity from materials used in programs funded by the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP). The directive specifically targets definitions of transgender and non-binary identities found in Teen Talk Middle School and High School materials that are currently being used throughout the state’s educational system.
“The Trump Administration will not tolerate the use of federal funds for programs that indoctrinate our children,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison.
The federal review identified numerous instances where California’s curriculum teaches concepts that fall outside the statute’s intended scope. The PREP program, which reaches approximately 13,000 youth annually, was designed specifically to educate adolescents about abstinence and contraception—not gender ideology. Federal officials maintain that such content is irrelevant to the program’s goals and exceeds its authorization, giving California 60 days to comply or lose funding.
Federal Funding at Stake
At issue is $12.3 million of the $18.2 million in federal funding allocated to California over the next three years through the PREP grant. The ACF letter makes clear that California must “remove all content concerning gender ideology from its curricula, program materials and any other aspects of its program delivery within 60 days” to maintain eligibility for these funds. This represents a significant financial pressure point that the administration is using to align state educational practices with federal priorities.
“The ‘purpose’ of a PREP grant award is for states to ‘carry out personal responsibility education programs consistent with this subsection,'” stated the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services‘ Administration for Children & Families (ACF).
The ACF further clarified that the PREP statute “neither requires, supports nor authorizes teaching students that gender identity is distinct from biological sex.” While the federal government lacks direct authority over state curriculum matters, financial leverage provides a powerful tool to influence educational content. This approach represents a tactical shift in how the administration addresses ideological differences with progressive states, using the “power of the purse” to enforce policy alignment.
California’s Response and Broader Implications
California’s Department of Public Health has not yet announced whether it will comply with the federal directive. In its initial response, the department defended its curriculum as “medically accurate, comprehensive, and age-appropriate,” noting that the content had previously received federal approval. The state also pointed out that its approach aligns with positions taken by major medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recognizes diverse gender identities.
“Even though the federal government does not have any real oversight of school mandates and policies and practices, my worry is that they’re going to find a way to have an impact on school systems around this issue as well,” said Eva Goldfarb, professor of public health at Montclair State University.
This ultimatum on sex education comes as part of a broader pattern of the Trump administration using federal funding to bring states in line with conservative policies. In a parallel move, the administration has also threatened to withdraw Title IX funds if California continues to allow biological males to compete in girls’ athletic programs. These actions reflect President Trump’s commitment to rolling back progressive gender policies that conservatives view as harmful indoctrination of children in public schools.
