HHS Defunds California’s Attempt to Indoctrinate Children with Gender Ideology

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today through its Administration for Children and Families (ACF) terminated California’s Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) grant after the state refused to remove radical gender ideology from the federally-funded education program to prevent teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections in schoolchildren.

In a disturbing and egregious abuse of federal funds, California has been using taxpayer money to teach curricula that could encourage kids to contemplate mutilating their genitals, “altering their body … through hormone therapy,” “adding or removing breast tissue,” and “changing their name.” It instructed teachers to “remind students that some men are born with female anatomy.”

The termination follows ACF’s repeated efforts to ensure federally funded programs adhere to statutory requirements and remain free of radical gender ideology.

In March 2025, ACF requested California submit its PREP curricula for review and identified concerning gender ideology content that exceeded the program’s statutory purposes. In June 2025, ACF demanded California remove all content outside of the scope of the PREP statute — which included copious references to gender ideology — within 60-days. Despite clear direction, California responded to ACF stating they will not be making the required modifications, leading ACF to take decisive action to terminate their PREP grant.

“California’s refusal to comply with federal law and remove egregious gender ideology from federally funded sex-ed materials is unacceptable,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison. “The Trump Administration will not allow taxpayer dollars to be used to indoctrinate children. Accountability is coming for every state that uses federal funds to teach children delusional gender ideology.”

This decision builds on previous efforts to ensure all PREP grantees comply with statutory requirements. Earlier this year, ACF instructed all PREP recipients to submit their curriculum for review. ACF has identified gender ideology content in additional states’ and territories’ PREP curricula and plans to notify them soon and require similar modifications within 60-days. ACF will continue to uphold the integrity of federally funded programs and ensure that PREP programs nationwide comply with statutory requirements. States that fail to comply will face similar enforcement actions, as ACF remains steadfast in its mission to protect American families and children.

The termination letter to California can be found here.