by Sacramento, CA – The Trump administration announced Thursday that it has canceled a $12 million federal grant for California’s sex education program, citing the state’s refusal to remove what officials called “radical gender ideology” from its curriculum.
Program Impacted by Funding Cut
The California Personal Responsibility Education Program (CA Prep) provides instruction to youths ages 10 to 19 on abstinence and contraception to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. It specifically serves vulnerable groups, including children in foster care, those experiencing homelessness, and teens in areas with high birth rates. LGBTQ youth are also among the targeted populations.
Where the Curriculum is Offered
The program is implemented across a range of facilities, including schools, juvenile justice centers, foster care group homes, and homeless shelters. With the cancellation of the grant, program advocates warn that vulnerable populations may lose access to critical health education services.
Federal Review of Education Programs
Andrew Gradison, acting assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, told Fox & Friends that his agency is conducting a nationwide review of state-funded sex education programs. Nearly 40 states, he said, may be asked to revise their curriculums to comply with federal guidelines.
California Pushes Back
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office criticized the move sharply. “If it’s a day ending in y, President Trump is attacking kids’ safety, health, and access to education as part of his culture war,” spokesperson Elana Ross said in a statement to KTLA. The California Department of Public Health, which oversees CA Prep, did not immediately comment.
Legal Battles over Transgender Rights
The grant cancellation comes shortly after the U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against California over its policies allowing transgender athletes to participate in girls’ school sports. The administration argues the rules violate federal anti-discrimination laws. In February, Trump signed an executive order declaring it U.S. policy to oppose male participation in women’s sports, threatening to pull funding from schools that do not comply.
Escalating Federal-State Tensions
This latest move underscores mounting clashes between the Trump administration and California over education, gender rights, and federal funding. Trump has previously suggested cutting broader federal funds to the state over these issues, while Newsom has floated the idea of withholding California’s share of federal tax contributions in response.
