AG Kaul Joins Coalition Suing Over Illegal Conditions on Funding for Programs Designed to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul announced today that Wisconsin has joined a coalition suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over unlawful new conditions placed on funding for federal sexual health education programs designed to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

The Trump administration is threatening to pull funding for longstanding teen reproductive and sexual health education programs from states unless they remove language discussing gender identity from those programs.

“The Trump administration shouldn’t be improperly threatening to withhold funding for programs that help protect the health of young Wisconsinites,” said AG Kaul. “And the information provided by health programs should be based on medical consensus, not adherence to the Trump administration’s agenda.”

Wisconsin receives approximately $1.7 million annually through the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) and Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program (SRAE) grants. These funds support programs that educate teenagers on pregnancy and preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections.

Wisconsin is one of many states requiring materials for these programs to contain medically accurate, scientifically based information. Wisconsin’s program materials reflect the medical community’s judgment that sexual health education should include accurate information about gender identity.

The coalition asks the court to halt HHS before it terminates PREP and SRAE grants to Wisconsin and other states. The coalition argues that HHS’s actions violate the federal PREP and SRAE statutes, the federal Administrative Procedure Act, and the United States Constitution. Forcing states to use medically unsupported, incomplete PREP and SRAE program content violates laws adopted by Congress. The action is arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act because HHS has failed to explain the reasons for requiring such unsupported and incomplete content. By unilaterally imposing these vague and nonsensical conditions, HHS also usurps Congress’ spending power and violates the separation of powers.

Joining AG Kaul in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.

A copy of the complaint is available here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.