Exclusive: Several states still have in place gender ideology policies for 4-H programs that were revoked by the Trump administration, according to the Center for Practical Federalism. The nonpartisan Washington-based think tank is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to evaluate the programs’ gender standards, as they are currently based on self-identification rather than biological sex for overnight accommodations. The issue stems from a 2017 guidance that has since been rescinded, and new federal rules issued under the Trump administration now prioritize biological sex over identity in such spaces.
The 4-H programs, which are run by over 100 land-grant universities, offer activities such as science, agriculture, and civic engagement for young people across the country. The Center for Practical Federalism highlights that policies allowing participants to stay in cabins based on gender identity rather than biological sex remain in place in multiple states, including Kansas, California, and Oregon. The organization emphasizes that this practice potentially conflicts with parental rights and children’s safety, especially in cases where underage girls are placed with individuals who identify as females without parental consent.
Citing an example, the group notes that the Rock Springs Ranch 4-H Camp in Kansas allowed a male-born individual identifying as female to stay with preteens without notifying parents, as detailed by The Sentinel, a news site linked to the Kansas Policy Institute. The Kansas 4-H Foundation has not updated its gender policy documents since the incident, which still reference discrimination based on ‘gender identity’ in housing arrangements. The Center for Practical Federalism is urging the USDA to conduct a full review of all federally funded 4-H programs and facilities, ensuring compliance with current federal directives, and recommends an audit of all guidance documents to remove any subregulatory directives that bypass lawful rulemaking processes.
Other states like California and Oregon also have similar policies in official documents or training materials for their 4-H programs, according to the group. While the University of California and Oregon State University’s 4-H programs have not responded to requests for comment, the Center for Practical Federalism’s letter to the USDA urges the department to take action to align the programs with the latest federal policies and prevent the enforcement of outdated guidelines. The USDA has not yet responded to the request for comment. This ongoing issue reflects broader debates over the implementation of federal policies at the local level and their impact on educational and youth programs.