A growing number of Americans are pushing back against the inclusion of radical gender ideology in school curriculums, particularly when it’s mandated without parental consent. Many parents believe schools should focus on foundational subjects like math, science, and reading, rather than introducing complex and controversial concepts about gender identity to young students.

Parents want schools to prioritize academic basics over social issues, with many expressing discomfort at the idea of their children being taught about gender fluidity or nonbinary identities as fact. This sentiment reflects a deep concern that such lessons could shape young minds before they’re ready to grapple with these ideas.

The resistance stems from a desire to preserve childhood innocence and allow families to guide discussions about gender ideology. Parents from both sides of the political aisle argue that schools shouldn’t be platforms for pushing ideological agendas.

For many, the classroom is a place for equipping kids with practical skills, not navigating adult-oriented subjects that are too mature for them to tackle at their age. This clash of priorities has now erupted into a major federal-state conflict, as the U.S. government takes action against California’s refusal to align its education programs with federal standards.

HHS Halts California’s S*x Ed Funding Over Gender Ideology

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has pulled the plug on a federal grant funding California’s s*x education program after the state refused to take “radical gender ideology” off its curriculum, Fox News Digital reported exclusively on Thursday. The decision targets California’s Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), which seeks to curb teen pregnancy and s*xually transmitted infections among youth aged 10–19 through education. The move is a strong stance by the Trump administration, which argues that the program’s focus on gender identity misuses taxpayer money and violates federal guidelines.

“California’s refusal to comply with federal law and remove egregious gender ideology from federally funded s*x-ed materials is unacceptable,” said Andrew Gradison, acting assistant secretary at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), an HHS office that oversees grants for family support initiatives. “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.”

The ACF, which supports state and local programs like child care and family services, terminated California’s PREP grant after a review uncovered content it deemed inappropriate. The program, which received nearly $6 million in federal funds in 2022, could lose up to $12.3 million in future funding, according to HHS. PREP provides “engaging, nonjudgmental, medically accurate” education in settings like schools, juvenile justice centers, and foster care homes, targeting groups such as homeless youth, those in foster care, or those identifying as LGBTQ.

The controversy kicked off in March when ACF demanded California submit its PREP curriculum for review to confirm it was age-appropriate and medically accurate. The review revealed lessons introducing middle schoolers to transgenderism and genderqu**r concepts.

“We’ve been talking during class about messages people get on how they should act as boys and girls—but as many of you know, there are also people who don’t identify as boys or girls, but rather as transgender or gender qu**r,” one lesson states. “This means that even if they were called a boy or a girl at birth and may have body parts that are typically associated with being a boy or a girl, on the inside, they feel differently.”

High school materials described “nonbinary” identities and framed “gender-identity” as “essentially a social status.” Teacher guides advised on avoiding misgendering, defining “cisgender” as those aligning with their s*x “assigned at birth” and listing terms like “non-binary, agender, bigender, genderfluid, (or) genderqu**r” for others. HHS also flagged lessons suggesting students could consider “mutilating their g*nitals,” “altering their body… through hormone therapy,” or “adding or removing br**st tissue,” calling it a “disturbing and egregious abuse of federal funds.”

In June, ACF gave California 60 days to remove these elements or face funding cuts, per Fox News Digital. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) refused, arguing in a letter this week that the materials were already approved, medically accurate, and relevant to PREP’s goals under 42 U.S.C. § 713(b)(2)(C). “CDPH will not make any such modifications at this time for several reasons,” the state wrote, also claiming ACF lacked enforcement authority.

With the deadline passed, ACF sent a letter on August 21, 2025, to CDPH officials Sydney Armendariz and Matthew Green, terminating all PREP awards effective immediately. “This is the final decision of the Administration for Children and Families,” the letter stated, noting California could appeal within 30 days to the Departmental Appeals Board.

The Trump administration is very serious about rooting out gender ideology from public schools and institutions. Through this latest California incident, they’ve shown that they won’t hesitate to remove federal funding from states that defy their stance on this issue.

Do you agree with the Trump admin’s decision to axe California’s federal grant for including gender ideology in their school curriculum? As always, let us know what you think by posting in the comments down below!