46 US states and territories ordered to strip gender terms from sex ed or risk funding cuts

The Trump administration has told 40 states, five US territories and Washington, D.C., to remove references to transgender people and “gender ideology” from their sex education materials or risk losing federal funding.

In letters sent this week, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) – a division of the Department of Health and Human Services – warned that health departments must revise their federally funded Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) curricula within 60 days. The PREP initiative, created in 2010, supports efforts to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

“Accountability is coming,” said acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison in a statement. “Federal funds will not be used to poison the minds of the next generation or advance dangerous ideological agendas. The Trump administration will ensure that PREP reflects the intent of Congress, not the priorities of the left.”

The move follows last week’s termination of California’s PREP grant, after the state refused to remove content related to gender identity. Federal officials said other states and territories could face similar funding cuts, including the withholding or suspension of millions of dollars.

The 40 states include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The six territories include Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Washington D.C.

Letters sent to individual states outlined examples of flagged material, including definitions of gender identity and gender expression, guidance on using students’ pronouns, and recommendations to demonstrate respect for all participants regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

New York, which receives more than $6 million annually in PREP funding, confirmed it is reviewing the federal directive. “The mission of the New York State Department of Health, under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul, remains the same,” spokesperson Cadence Acquaviva said. “We will continue to promote and protect health and well-being for all, building on a foundation of health equity.”

Oregon officials said they were also assessing the potential impact of the changes. The directive underscores the Trump administration’s broader stance on limiting recognition of transgender identities in federally supported programmes. Supporters argue the policy ensures education remains “medically accurate” and aligned with congressional intent, while critics warn it erases vulnerable young people from vital health discussions.