Overview
- U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken said she will issue a preliminary injunction halting the directive while the case proceeds.
- The 16-state coalition and D.C. sued after HHS told 46 states and territories to remove gender-identity content from PREP and Title V SRAE materials.
- Plaintiffs argue HHS exceeded statutory limits and violated the Constitution’s spending powers, with roughly $35 million in grants at risk.
- HHS defends the policy as lawful and aligned with abstinence and sexual risk-avoidance goals, with government counsel saying it bars teaching that “boys can be girls and girls can be boys.”
- California’s PREP grant was terminated after it refused to change its curriculum, and the judge said the policy appears inconsistent with the governing statutes as she prepares a written order.