The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on 21 August terminated California’s federal grant for the Personal Responsibility Education Program, which funds sex-education initiatives aimed at preventing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections for youth aged 10–19. HHS said the California Department of Public Health refused to delete lessons it described as “radical gender ideology,” including references to transgender, non-binary and other gender-identity topics that the agency concluded fall outside the curriculum allowed under federal statute. Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison said the administration “will not allow taxpayer dollars to be used to indoctrinate children.” The decision, issued by the Administration for Children and Families led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., immediately suspends funding and could cost the state about $12.3 million that had not yet been disbursed. California officials have 30 days to appeal to the Departmental Appeals Board.