The Health and Human Services (HHS) canceled a sexual education grant to California that provided services to children because officials claim it includes "radical gender ideology."
The grant is worth about $12.3 million, and the decision was made after state officials refused to revise the materials. The money was being used to pay for sex education programs in juvenile justice facilities, homeless shelters, and foster care group homes. These reached an estimated 13,000 youths per year through 20 different agencies.
Suspension of California's Sex Education Grant
The announcement of the grant's cancellation on Thursday was something that many people expected because it was linked to a 60-day compliance deadline. Andrew Gradison, the acting assistant secretary of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), said that California's refusal to comply with federal law was "unacceptable."
Gradison added that the Trump administration will not allow taxpayer money to be used to indoctrinate children. He said that every state will be accountable if they use federal funds to teach children delusional gender ideology, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Read more: Supreme Court Allows Parents To Opt Their Children Out From Lessons Featuring LGBTQ Books
The situation comes as state officials have taken the position that the materials of California's sex education programs are accurate and do not violate the terms of the federal grant. An official statement read that the state's students deserve access to "education information" and materials that help them make healthy decisions about sexual activity.
Despite the latest development, the Trump administration is not accusing California of failing to carry out the abstinence and contraception instruction funded by the grant. It is instead focusing on the fact that the state included additional content that the government deems objectionable and "outside the scope' of the grant's purpose.
Promoting "Gender Ideology"
The decision also builds on previous efforts to ensure that all Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) grantees comply with statutory requirements set by the government. The ACF instructed all PREP recipients earlier this year to submit their curriculum for review, the HHS reported.
Gradison said that the ACF identified several instances of gender ideology content in California's programs. These include lessons that teach students that gender identity is distinct from biological sex and that boys can identify as girls and vice versa.
But in the termination letter, California's health department said it would not be making any modifications. State authorities argued that their program materials are relevant and medically accurate. They argued that the ACF does not have the authority to take an enforcement action against them, as per The Hill.
