Gender Curriculum BATTLE: States vs. Trump

The Trump administration has threatened to withhold $81.3 million in federal funding from states that do not revise sex education curricula to exclude references to gender identity.

Story Overview

Forty states, five territories, and the District of Columbia were directed to remove gender identity content from federally funded sex education programs.
California lost its Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) grant earlier in August after declining to comply with the new requirements.
A total of $81.3 million in grants is at risk under enforcement of a January 2025 executive order.
States and territories have 60 days to comply or face potential termination of funding.

Federal Crackdown on Gender Content in Schools

On August 26, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent compliance letters to 46 states and territories. The letters instructed officials to remove references to transgender and nonbinary identities from the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), a federal initiative that funds adolescent health and sex education programs.

Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison said in a statement that the federal government would not support what he described as “ideological agendas” in education. The directive represents one of the largest federal interventions in sex education policy to date.

🚨 BREAKING: HHS Secretary RFK Jr. will now revoke federal funding from 46 states and territories if they refuse to remove all gender ideology references from their s*x education programs within 60 days.

California has already been revoked. The rest are next.

“Federal funds… pic.twitter.com/uisKa7H5Gf

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 26, 2025

California Loses Millions for Non-Compliance

Earlier in August, HHS announced the termination of California’s PREP grant, making it the first state to lose funding under the new policy. The loss amounted to several million dollars in federal education funds. California officials have not indicated plans to revise their curriculum in response to the order.

The decision is viewed by the administration as an enforcement test case, signaling that other states may face similar financial penalties if they maintain gender identity content in sex education programs.

States Face Critical Decision on Curriculum

The administration’s directive requires state education departments to choose between revising curricula to align with the Executive Order or losing access to federal PREP funds. Under the 60-day compliance window, programs that include references to transgender or nonbinary identities must be amended or risk disqualification.

Supporters of the policy argue it prioritizes what they describe as biological definitions of sex and parental authority in education. Critics contend it restricts states’ ability to provide comprehensive health education and excludes recognition of LGBTQ+ students.

Constitutional and Policy Context

The enforcement stems from President Trump’s January 2025 executive order mandating that federal programs recognize only two sexes—male and female—based on biological definitions. Administration officials describe the policy as restoring “scientific integrity” and preventing the use of federal funding for programs they view as advancing contested social theories.

Civil rights organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, have criticized the policy, saying it erases recognition of transgender students and undermines inclusive education. They argue the directive raises legal and constitutional concerns regarding discrimination.