The State of Alabama recently received a letter from the Trump Administration, mandating the end of all references to gender ideology in federally-funded Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) educational materials. The order must be followed within 60 days and applies to 40 states, five territories, and Washington, D.C.
According to the White House, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Administration for Children and Families (ACF), is leading the effort to implement the changes.
Alabama’s letter was addressed directly to its Department of Public Health.
“We are aware that these curricula and other program materials were previously approved by ACF,” read the dispatch. “However, the prior administration erred in allowing PREP grants to be used to teach students gender ideology because that approval exceeded the agency’s authority to administer the program consistent with the authorizing legislation as enacted by Congress.”
“Alabama’s current PREP curricula and program materials are out of compliance with the PREP statute and HHS regulations and must be modified. The purpose of a PREP grant award is for states to “carry out personal responsibility education programs consistent with this subsection.”
State Health Officer Scott Harris has agreed to implement the changes requested and to ‘make sure we’re compliant with whatever we need to be compliant with,’ according to reports.
The ACF could pull $2.1 million in federal funding from the department if updates are not put in place.
“Should Alabama fail to make the appropriate modifications to its PREP curricula and program materials, ACF may take additional enforcement action, including allowing HHS to withhold, disallow, suspend, or terminate Federal awards if imposing additional conditions on a grantee does not cure noncompliance.”
HHS Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison pledged that ‘accountability is coming.’
“Federal funds will not be used to poison the minds of the next generation or advance dangerous ideological agendas,” said Gradison. “The Trump Administration will ensure that PREP reflects the intent of Congress, not the priorities of the left.”
The 46 recipients of the letters include the following states and territories:
States:
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, Wyoming.
Territories and D.C.:
Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Washington D.C.
Alabama must also provide a copy of the modified materials to ACF for approval by the end of 60 day period.
Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
