{"id":1772,"date":"2026-07-08T17:00:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T12:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=1772"},"modified":"2026-07-08T17:00:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T12:00:20","slug":"tfunding-for-prevention-of-teen-pregnancy-cut-by-trumps-hhs-npr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=1772","title":{"rendered":"TFunding for prevention of teen pregnancy cut by Trump\u2019s HHS : NPR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-132449\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 4032;&#10;        --source-height: 3024;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"A LiFT workshop in the Navaho Nation in Arizona. About a dozen people are shown around a conference table in a light-filled room with big windows.\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                A LiFT workshop in the Navaho Nation in Arizona. The evidence-based course has teens bring a trusted adult with them to learn about relationships, safe sex and preventing pregnancy.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    <i>H\u00f3zh\u01eb\u0301 Horizons<\/i><\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        <i>H\u00f3zh\u01eb\u0301 Horizons<\/i><\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong><em>For stories of life in our changing world, <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/newsletter\/goats-and-soda\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>subscribe here<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em> to the global health newsletter.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Last July, the Trump administration <a href=\"https:\/\/health.gov\/news\/hhs-issues-policy-stop-radical-indoctrination-children-and-ensure-parental-oversight-teen\" target=\"_blank\">issued a notice<\/a> to the dozens of organizations receiving Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program grants.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Program materials are expected [to] reflect the immutable biological reality of sex, not radical gender ideology, and may not promote anti-American ideologies such as discriminatory equity ideology,&#8221; the document reads, listing five executive orders organizations needed to comply with to keep their grants. &#8220;Programs with such unauthorized content are not eligible for federal funding.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap backstage\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5885054-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImageg-s1-132164\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/07\/g-s1-132164\/supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-race-dred-scott\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/07\\\/g-s1-132164\\\/supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-race-dred-scott&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2029x2029+659+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2Fd3%2F31662a864dfd957d1e484e64910a%2Fimg-2305-1.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2029x2029+659+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2Fd3%2F31662a864dfd957d1e484e64910a%2Fimg-2305-1.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2029x2029+659+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2Fd3%2F31662a864dfd957d1e484e64910a%2Fimg-2305-1.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2029x2029+659+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2Fd3%2F31662a864dfd957d1e484e64910a%2Fimg-2305-1.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2029x2029+659+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2Fd3%2F31662a864dfd957d1e484e64910a%2Fimg-2305-1.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2029x2029+659+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2Fd3%2F31662a864dfd957d1e484e64910a%2Fimg-2305-1.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2029x2029+659+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2Fd3%2F31662a864dfd957d1e484e64910a%2Fimg-2305-1.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2029x2029+659+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2Fd3%2F31662a864dfd957d1e484e64910a%2Fimg-2305-1.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Charlie Taney, the great-great-grandnephew of the man who wrote the Dred Scott opinion, and Lynne Jackson, Scott's great-great-granddaughter, speak at an event at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill on June 30.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5885054-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Grantees scrambled to adapt to the new requirements. One of them, <a href=\"https:\/\/hftx.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Healthy Futures of Texas<\/a>, provides sexual health education in community centers, school districts, and juvenile justice and faith communities in San Antonio, Dallas, and the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We had to essentially adapt and revise all of the already approved curricula to be in alignment with the executive orders \u2014 so that for us was 11 different programs that we adapted,&#8221; explains <a href=\"https:\/\/hftx.org\/hftx-announces-new-leadership\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ginger Mullaney<\/a>, the organization&#8217;s president and CEO.<\/p>\n<p>The process took months. &#8220;After all of that work, we were re-awarded and all of our programs have been deemed in compliance,&#8221; she says. &#8220;We have submitted progress reports thus far and our programs were still in alignment even up until recently \u2014 in November, we submitted another adaptation for a program and were approved.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>So two weeks ago, when the organization&#8217;s $2 million annual grant was canceled, effective immediately, Mullaney was stunned.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, in late June, the federal Department of Health and Human Services canceled <a href=\"https:\/\/opa.hhs.gov\/grant-programs\/teen-pregnancy-prevention-program\/tpp-grant-recipients\/current-tpp-grant-recipients\" target=\"_blank\">all but a dozen<\/a> Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program grants, totaling $66 million for grantees across the country. Grantees included a <a href=\"https:\/\/opa.hhs.gov\/grant-programs\/teen-pregnancy-prevention-tpp-program\/tpp-grant-recipients\/past-tpp-grant-recipients-2023-2026\" target=\"_blank\">wide range of organizations<\/a> from public health departments and universities, to Planned Parenthood and Bethany Christian Services affiliates. The <a href=\"https:\/\/opa.hhs.gov\/grant-programs\/teen-pregnancy-prevention-program\/tpp-grant-recipients\/current-tpp-grant-recipients\" target=\"_blank\">five-year grants<\/a> had two years left to go.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-secondary-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap secondary\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<aside id=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" class=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" aria-label=\"recommended stories\"\/>\n<!-- END ID=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n<p>According to a list of terminations obtained by NPR, the given reason was: &#8220;Misalignment with agency priority, specifically normalizing sexual activity for minors.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>For Mullaney, the sudden funding cut means 13 employees are losing their jobs, and they may have to reduce their services.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m frustrated that these are lives that were being changed \u2014 there&#8217;s generational impact and social and economic mobility for our communities using programs that are proven and demonstrated to be effective,&#8221; she says.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">A history of &#8216;rigorous&#8217; evaluation<\/h3>\n<p>The teen pregnancy rate has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/crs-product\/R45184?__cf_chl_f_tk=bcZ2ZWJ5Sjas3.RFaL14ZYvc1rgKVs0ygDHAwO5Sb_g-1783441385-1.0.1.1-iBMGkowyhT9TWt_l8OLDkVEALXO3arz1y.gWaqi9jl8#_Ref194493773\" target=\"_blank\">declined dramatically<\/a> in the U.S. since the 1990s, but rates are still higher than they are in <a href=\"https:\/\/data.worldbank.org\/indicator\/SP.ADO.TFRT?locations=OE&amp;most_recent_value_desc=true\" target=\"_blank\">peer countries<\/a>. The cost to young parents is high \u2014 they are less likely to earn a high school diploma and more likely to have lower lifetime earnings. The costs to taxpayers were estimated <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210329064042\/https:\/\/peerta.acf.hhs.gov\/content\/numbers-public-costs-teen-childbearing\" target=\"_blank\">in one study<\/a> to be $9 billion per year.<\/p>\n<p>Before the Teen Pregnancy Prevention funding stream was established in 2010, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jahonline.org\/article\/S1054-139X(13)00778-7\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\">series of programs<\/a> were &#8220;evaluated using randomized controlled trials, which are really the gold standard for understanding the effectiveness of public policy,&#8221; explains <a href=\"https:\/\/sociology.wisc.edu\/staff\/mark-nicholas\/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicholas Mark<\/a>, a sociologist at the University of Wisconsin Madison.<\/p>\n<p>Congress then established the funding stream &#8220;to put in place the programs that had been shown to be effective in reducing teen pregnancy, increasing healthy behaviors, decreasing unhealthy sexual behaviors among teens,&#8221; he says. &#8220;So the whole basis of the program was in effective, rigorously evaluated programs.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>But the grants have long been a target of the Trump administration and some conservative groups like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heritage.org\/public-health\/report\/the-failure-the-teen-pregnancy-prevention-program-advocates-evidence-based\" target=\"_blank\">Heritage Foundation<\/a>. All of the grants were canceled by the Trump administration during the president&#8217;s first term, although the funding <a href=\"https:\/\/democracyforward.org\/news\/press-releases\/complete-victory-against-the-trump-administrations-attempt-to-redirect-funds-toward-abstinence-only-programs\/\" target=\"_blank\">was restored<\/a> after grantees sued.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5885054-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImage1169085610\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/health-shots\/2023\/04\/15\/1169085610\/birth-control-abortion-rape-teen\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/sections\\\/health-shots\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/15\\\/1169085610\\\/birth-control-abortion-rape-teen&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2023\/04\/10\/juliet-abortion-law-georgia-1_sq-85fb81c1d18c18d69359869e77fb035ae6c7f00f.jpg?s=100&amp;c=85&amp;f=jpeg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2023\/04\/10\/juliet-abortion-law-georgia-1_sq-85fb81c1d18c18d69359869e77fb035ae6c7f00f.jpg?s=100&amp;c=100&amp;f=jpeg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2023\/04\/10\/juliet-abortion-law-georgia-1_sq-85fb81c1d18c18d69359869e77fb035ae6c7f00f.jpg?s={width}&amp;c={quality}&amp;f={format}\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2023\/04\/10\/juliet-abortion-law-georgia-1_sq-85fb81c1d18c18d69359869e77fb035ae6c7f00f.jpg?s=100&amp;c=85&amp;f=jpeg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2023\/04\/10\/juliet-abortion-law-georgia-1_sq-85fb81c1d18c18d69359869e77fb035ae6c7f00f.jpg?s=100&amp;c=100&amp;f=jpeg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2023\/04\/10\/juliet-abortion-law-georgia-1_sq-85fb81c1d18c18d69359869e77fb035ae6c7f00f.jpg?s={width}&amp;c={quality}&amp;f={format}\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2023\/04\/10\/juliet-abortion-law-georgia-1_sq-85fb81c1d18c18d69359869e77fb035ae6c7f00f.jpg?s=100&amp;c=100&amp;f=jpeg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2023\/04\/10\/juliet-abortion-law-georgia-1_sq-85fb81c1d18c18d69359869e77fb035ae6c7f00f.jpg?s={width}&amp;c={quality}&amp;f={format}\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Fear of pregnancy: One teen's story in post-Roe America\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5885054-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Even before the administration canceled the grants, President Trump&#8217;s recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/budget_fy2027.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">budget request<\/a> called for eliminating the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program. &#8220;There is no evidence that these specific programs have contributed to this historic decline in teen pregnancy, which is now at an all-time low. Moreover, TPP issues grants to problematic organizations like abortion clinics that waste American taxpayer dollars on abortion services and promote radical leftist ideology,&#8221; the document reads.<\/p>\n<p>However, Trump also signed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/house-bill\/7148\/text#d23273e7485-appropriations-83\" target=\"_blank\">$101 million<\/a> in funding for the program into law earlier this year, a point raised by Senate and House Democrats in a <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/healthcare\/5951898-democrats-demand-hhs-reinstate-teen-pregnancy-grants\/\" target=\"_blank\">pair of letters<\/a> sent to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. last week, demanding that the funding be reinstated.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-third-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap third\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to multiple requests for comment from NPR about why the grants were canceled.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">&#8216;Normalizing sexual activity for minors&#8217;<\/h3>\n<p>Paige Preston just turned 18. She lives in Tuba City, Arizona, part of the Navajo Nation. Earlier this year, she attended a LiFT workshop \u2014 one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34452729\/\" target=\"_blank\">evidence-based programs<\/a> that the federal grants support \u2014 put on by <a href=\"https:\/\/cih.jhu.edu\/programs\/hozh%C7%AB-horizons-empowering-native-youth-in-health-wellness\/\" target=\"_blank\">H\u00f3zh\u01eb\u0301 Horizons<\/a> from the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-132451\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 2400;&#10;        --source-height: 1600;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2400x1600+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fab%2F6937dc534d668d3d9ad6ccfcfa82%2Fimage001.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Paige Preston was set to volunteer to help other teens in the LiFT workshop after she completed it herself. It's been canceled after federal funding cuts.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Paige Preston was set to volunteer to help other teens in the LiFT workshop after she completed it herself. It&#8217;s been canceled after federal funding cuts.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    <i>Jolene Robertson<\/i><\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        <i>Jolene Robertson<\/i><\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;It connects you with your trusted adult, so for me, I went with my sister and she is the person that I kind of go to for everything,&#8221; Preston says. &#8220;She was learning how to create a safe space for me and to make me feel heard. And then what I learned was how I show my affection for other people and how to be safe if we ever do come to that conclusion that there&#8217;s some activity that we want to participate in.&#8221; She says she also learned about birth control options beyond condoms, such as the pill and IUDs.<\/p>\n<p>Preston says she knows this information is important \u2014 several of her peers got pregnant in high school. Nationally, American Indian and Alaska Natives have the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/reproductive-health\/teen-pregnancy\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">highest teen pregnancy rate<\/a> among racial and ethnic groups.&#8221;I know in my community it is a big problem,&#8221; she says.<\/p>\n<p>Preston is now the chair of the H\u00f3zh\u01eb\u0301 Horizons Youth Council, and was ready to help with another LiFT workshop later this summer. It was canceled when the funding was cut.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In all honesty, I&#8217;m very sad and disappointed,&#8221; she says. She thinks the workshop brings information to young people that they might not learn at home or at school. &#8220;When you participate and you learn from people like you \u2014 like in Indigenous communities \u2014 that means a lot more because it&#8217;s showing you that someone like you is so knowledgeable about a subject, and they&#8217;re really passionate about that and it kind of makes you want to listen more.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-overflow-1-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap overflow-1\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Nicholas Mark from the University of Wisconsin argues that the reason that agency gave for canceling these grants \u2014 &#8220;normalizing sexual activity for minors&#8221; \u2014 is a &#8220;bizarre&#8221; framework.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In a world where teens have smartphones, teens are surrounded by sex and such easy access to sex and sexual imagery, sexual iconography,&#8221; he says. &#8220;It seems silly to think that having a source of verifiable, trusted information on safe sex would be worse than the information environment that people are already steeped in.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A LiFT workshop in the Navaho Nation in Arizona. The evidence-based course has teens bring a trusted adult with them to learn about relationships, safe sex and preventing pregnancy. H\u00f3zh\u01eb\u0301 Horizons hide caption toggle caption H\u00f3zh\u01eb\u0301 Horizons For stories of life in our changing world, subscribe here to the global health newsletter. Last July, the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1773,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4032x2268+0+254\/resize\/1400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F35%2Fde8a2ee449ad9656ea973efaab60%2Fteenpg1.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1772"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1772\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}