Trump Reallocates Sex Education Funds To Abstinence

The Trump administration has cut funding for federal teen pregnancy programs to shift the focus toward abstinence and marriage. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health stopped millions of taxpayer dollars from going to previous sex education plans. ^[1]

The budget cuts ended 53 different programs. This move saves taxpayers $67 million. The administration stated that the old models normalized sexual activity for minors. New rules require that program materials remain age-appropriate and avoid sexually explicit content.

“The budget cuts ended 53 different programs. This move saves taxpayers $67 million.”

Sexual Avoidance In Teens

The updated guidelines ask groups seeking federal money to teach sexual risk avoidance as the main way to stop teen pregnancy. The courses must focus on the importance of marriage. Quena González of the Family Research Council supports the funding shift. “Insisting that taxpayers pay adults to teach middle schoolers — typically 11-14 years old — about ‘sexual consent,’ pleasurable condom use, or how adolescent girls can use intrauterine devices and implants to avoid pregnancy, is just plain creepy,” González said.

Valerie Huber, president of The Institute for Women’s Health, said risk avoidance is a standard public health goal. She said,

We do not teach teenagers to smoke carefully. We tell them the truth about risk, and we help them stay at no risk or move from high risk to low risk to no risk.

Parental Rights

The new criteria also promise to defend the rights of parents to protect their children from content that goes against their religious beliefs. Meanwhile, some non-profit groups that lost funding are complaining about the changes. A few of those organizations are currently suing the health department over the new rules.