HHS Orders 46 States, Territories to Remove Gender Ideology from Sex Ed

The Trump administration has ordered 46 states and territories, including Vermont, Nevada, West Virginia, and others, to remove references to what it terms "gender ideology" from federally funded sex education materials under the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) within 60 days. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Administration for Children and Families (ACF), warned that failure to comply will result in withholding, suspension, or termination of PREP funding, with states facing losses ranging from hundreds of thousands to over a million dollars. This directive follows the recent termination of California’s PREP grant after the state refused to remove such content. Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison emphasized that federal funds will not be used to "poison the minds of the next generation or advance dangerous ideological agendas," asserting the administration’s commitment to ensuring PREP materials align with congressional intent rather than what it characterizes as "left" priorities. The administration has not provided specific guidelines clarifying what constitutes a reference to gender ideology, prompting concern among states. This move is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to protect children from what it calls indoctrination with "delusional ideology."