In brief
U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken ruled that the attempted funding cuts by the Health and Human Services Department violated federal law and could harm educational programs. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by 16 states and the District of Columbia, who argue the administration is targeting transgender and gender-diverse youth. The judge found no evidence that the Department's new grant conditions were reasonable or factually justified. This ruling protects essential funding and preserves comprehensive sexual health education programs in those states.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge in Oregon has blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from pulling sexual education funding over curricula mentioning diverse gender identities.
U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken issued the preliminary injunction Monday as part of a lawsuit filed against the Health and Human Services Department by 16 states and the District of Columbia, which argued that pulling such money violated the separation of powers and federal law.
The complaint, filed last month, states that the department is attempting to force the states to rewrite sexual health curricula to erase entire categories of students. It describes this action as the latest attempt from the administration to target and harm transgender and gender-diverse youth. The administration claimed in court filings that Health and Human Services has the authority to impose conditions for funding grants.
Aiken stated that the department provides no evidence that it made factual findings or considered the statutory objectives and express requirements, the relevant data, the applicable anti-sex-discrimination statutes and its own regulations. She added that the department also fails to show that the new grant conditions are reasonable.
The department did not immediately respond to requests for comments but previously stated its commitment to removing what it calls radical gender ideology from federal programs.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison welcomed the ruling, emphasizing the importance of protecting funding for essential health education programs. The Trump administration has aimed to only recognize individuals as male or female since returning to the White House.
The Health Department's move to restrict particular programs aimed at teaching sexual health includes potentially significant funding cuts. A total loss of about $35 million to the plaintiff states is projected due to the new conditions that restrict educational content.
In April, the health department requested the participating states to submit curricula for review. This ruling is seen as a crucial victory for advocates of comprehensive sex education, reflecting ongoing tensions regarding educational policies related to gender identity.
