Under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has fiercely criticized California’s controversial s*x education curriculum, calling out the state’s teachings as “not age-appropriate” and “medically accurate.”Â
In an exclusive letter to the California Department of Health, HHS demanded the state send all materials used in their s*x education programs for review, citing concerns about their content and methods.
The letter, which was exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail, pointed to the inclusion of explicit topics in California’s curriculum, such as “s*xual aids” and role-playing exercises that introduce children to a range of s*xual decision-making situations. These materials, according to the HHS, violate the standards required for federally funded programs aimed at teaching s*xual health.Â
California, which has received millions in federal funding through the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), was given a strict deadline to comply with the federal guidelines.
HHS officials made it clear that they would not tolerate the use of federal funds for programs that do not meet the statutory requirements. The letter emphasized that any s*x education materials provided to students must be medically accurate and age-appropriate.
With Kennedy in charge, the HHS is taking a firm stance against any content that fails to meet these criteria and the department has urged California to reevaluate its curriculum immediately.
California’s s*x education programs have been at the center of debate for years, with some of the most controversial materials being taught to students as young as 10. The curriculum encourages inclusivity, teaching students to use non-gender-specific pronouns and to explore diverse s*xual experiences, including same-gender couples.Â
HHS documents reveal that the state has been offering four different models for teaching s*x education, with one of them, “Power Through Choices,” explicitly including references to s*x toys and role-play activities, according to the Daily Mail. The use of such materials in public schools has raised alarms among conservative critics, who argue that these teachings are not suitable for young students.
This conflict between the Trump administration and California’s state leadership reflects broader tensions. California has long been a stronghold for liberal policies and Gov. Gavin Newsom has been a vocal critic of many actions taken by the Trump administration. This disagreement over s*x education is just the latest clash in an ongoing battle over state rights and federal oversight, the outlet highlights
The controversy also emphasizes the growing divide over issues such as “gender identity” and s*xual education. In response to the Trump administration’s stance, which emphasizes a binary understanding of gender, California’s s*x education program promotes more inclusive language, acknowledging the complexity of “gender identity.”Â
The curriculum aims to address the needs of LGBT students and incorporate diversity in its teachings.
As part of the PREP program, the federal government has the authority to intervene if any educational materials are deemed inappropriate or inaccurate. In this case, HHS has requested that all s*x education materials used in California’s public schools be submitted for review.
The state has until April 1 to respond to the HHS letter.
