The United States is home to more than 2.8 million transgender people, including hundreds of thousands of teenagers. Despite this reality, federal authorities are tightening pressure: the Justice Department has demanded that clinics hand over full data on minors undergoing gender transition. Now the Trump administration has gone further—demanding the removal of all references to transgender and nonbinary people from school curricula, threatening states with the loss of federal funding.
The Trump administration has warned state and territorial authorities that they will lose federal funding for their sex education programs if they do not eliminate references to transgender people.
On Tuesday, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) sent letters to 46 states, federal territories, and the District of Columbia, demanding that within 60 days they “remove all references to gender ideology.” Otherwise, they risk losing funding from the Personal Responsibility Education Program (Prep).
The initiative was launched in 2010 to prevent teenage pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections. “Accountability is coming,” said Andrew Gradison, acting assistant secretary at ACF, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services.
“Federal funds will not be used to poison the minds of the next generation or to promote dangerous ideological agendas. The Trump administration will ensure that the Prep program reflects the intent of Congress, not the priorities of the left,” the statement said.
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Last week the White House cut off millions in funding to California after the state refused to remove references to gender identity, transgender, and nonbinary people from its educational materials. Now the threat has been extended to 40 other states, federal territories, and the District of Columbia. In letters sent by the administration, officials cited specific examples of curricula they claimed exceeded the scope of Prep, including references to transgender people, gender expression, and diversity.
The amount of funding at stake varies by region. New York risks losing the most—about $6 million. Delaware receives the smallest grant, $333,000.
The demand to states is the latest step in Donald Trump’s effort to erase federal recognition of transgender people and end support for any programs that reference them. The president has already signed orders affirming that there are only two immutable sexes, banned transgender girls from competing on women’s sports teams, restricted transgender people from serving in the military, and blocked federal funding for hospitals providing gender-affirming care to teenagers.
Trump’s critics warn that such measures will harm young people.
“If the day of the week ends in ‘y,’ then President Trump is once again attacking children’s safety, health, and access to education as part of his culture war,” a spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom told NBC.
“Research consistently shows that LGBTQ+ students, especially transgender and nonbinary youth, are more likely to face bullying, harassment, and heightened risk of suicide,” said Jorge Reyes Salinas, communications director at the advocacy group Equality California.
“These numbers are now climbing rapidly. Inclusive education reduces stigma and saves lives,” he added.