In an August 26 letter to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ordered the state to rewrite its Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) curriculum within 60 days. Michigan receives roughly $3.4 million annually in federal funding for the program, which serves students ages 12 to 18.

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The letter flagged lessons that define gender as separate from biological sex, encourage students to share pronouns, and promote inclusivity for transgender and nonbinary youth. Federal officials said this content violates PREP’s statutory mission, which is to teach abstinence, contraception, and life skills – not gender identity concepts.

Reversal of Obama-era guidance.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of HHS, acknowledged that the approvals granted before the second Trump administration allowing these materials were improper and exceeded its federal authority. Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison wrote that “gender ideology is outside the scope of the authorizing statute” and warned that Michigan’s curriculum is out of compliance.

If MDHHS fails to make changes by October 27, HHS may withhold or terminate grant funding, which covers Michigan’s multi-year PREP initiatives. The letter specifically cites pages from Making Proud Choices! and the Teen Outreach Program facilitator manual, noting multiple sections teaching concepts like gender identity, expression, and transgender inclusion.

Political flashpoint for schools.

This mandate is part of the Trump administration’s broader push to regulate schools and healthcare providers, including cutting funding for diversity and gender-related programs. Critics say the changes roll back years of inclusive education progress, while supporters argue that federal dollars shouldn’t support “social agendas” unrelated to statutory requirements.

The PREP program provides funding for sexual health and life skills education for teens. Without federal dollars, Michigan would face a steep budget gap for these initiatives, forcing either state funding increases or curriculum overhauls. Michigan officials have yet to announce whether they’ll comply or challenge the directive but have said the HHS letter is under review.

The Trump administration’s directive wasn’t aimed solely at Michigan. Similar notices were sent to 40 states, five U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, all warning that federally funded PREP sex education programs – established under the Affordable Care Act – must strip content on gender identity or risk losing funding.