U.S. Senator James Lankford has introduced legislation that would prohibit federal funding for research and publications related to gender transitions for minors.
The Protecting Our Kids from Harmful Research Act would ban the use of federal funds for research, observational studies or publications involving individuals under 18 if the purpose is to affirm a minor’s asserted gender identity when it differs from the person’s biological sex.
Lankford said the legislation would make permanent President Donald Trump’s efforts to halt federal grants supporting such research.
“God creates every child male or female in His perfect image,” Lankford said. “For too long, taxpayers have been forced to fund sex-rejecting studies on kids. The result has been irreversible physical harm, mental health crises, and families torn apart. President Trump has led the effort to shut down these grants across the federal government, and Congress needs to make it permanent. This bill ensures that not one more taxpayer dollar funds research designed to harm children.”
The measure is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Ted Cruz of Texas, Steve Daines of Montana, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Mike Lee of Utah.
The legislation is also endorsed by Students for Life Action and the American Principles Project.
