The Trump administration has terminated a federal grant to California’s sex education program after the state refused to strip gender ideology from its curriculum. The grant, issued under the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), was worth over $6 million between 2020 and 2023 and targeted youth ages 10 to 19.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (ACF), California’s PREP curriculum promoted gender-related surgeries, hormone treatments, and encouraged youth to consider changing their names or physical characteristics. The administration deemed these teachings a violation of federal law governing the program’s educational scope.
“California’s refusal to comply with federal law and remove egregious gender ideology from federally funded sex-ed materials is unacceptable,” said Andrew Gradison, acting assistant secretary of ACF. In March, the department requested a curriculum review and directed California to remove the gender ideology content. The state declined to comply.
California’s Department of Public Health defended the program, claiming it helps reduce teen sexual activity and increases safe sex practices. However, federal officials rejected the inclusion of gender ideology in taxpayer-funded educational material.
“The Trump Administration will not allow taxpayer dollars to be used to indoctrinate children,” Gradison added. “Accountability is coming for every state that uses federal funds to teach children delusional gender ideology.”
The move marks a significant push by the Trump administration to ensure federal education funding aligns with conservative values. States that continue to include controversial gender content in youth education risk losing federal support under the current enforcement approach.
