The administration announced the cancellation of 53 federal teen pregnancy prevention grants, prompting calls from lawmakers to reinstate the funding.
The administration announced the cancellation of 53 of the 66 existing federal grants under the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, which was established by Congress in 2010. The new policy requires grant recipients to prioritize abstinence, marriage, and fertility protection while avoiding content that is deemed overly sexually explicit or pornographic. Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Ritchie Torres, have expressed concern over the abrupt termination of the grants without a transition period. They argue that the cuts disrupt services for thousands of young people, particularly in communities experiencing concentrated poverty. Critics, such as social work professor Anita Barbee, argue that the administration's focus on abstinence-only models may overlook evidence-based programs that acknowledge teen sexual activity. A federal lawsuit has been filed by a coalition of organizations, including Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, to vacate the policy changes. The plaintiffs allege that the administration replaced the statutory criteria established by Congress with its own policy priorities, potentially jeopardizing long-standing partnerships between schools and community organizations.