Fact Check: Biden Spent Millions of Dollars Making Mice Transgender
What We Know
The claim that the Biden Administration spent millions on making mice transgender stems from various National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. According to reports, the total amount spent on these studies is approximately $8.29 million, which includes several specific research projects. For instance, one project titled “A Mouse Model to Test the Effects of Gender-affirming Hormone Therapy on HIV Vaccine-induced Immune Responses” received $455,000, while another, “Reproductive Consequences of Steroid Hormone Administration,” was allocated $2.5 million (source-1). Other projects included studies on the effects of testosterone therapy on breast cancer risk and the influence of gonadal hormones on asthma outcomes (source-2).
The White Coat Waste Project has also reported that over $10 million in taxpayer funds were spent on creating transgender mice, rats, and monkeys, highlighting the controversial nature of these experiments (source-3). Critics argue that such experiments are unnecessary and cruel, suggesting that modern technological advancements could replace animal testing (source-2).
Analysis
The claim that Biden spent millions on making mice transgender is partially true. While it is accurate that the NIH funded various studies related to gender-affirming therapies in mice, the characterization of these studies as simply "making mice transgender" oversimplifies the research objectives. The studies aim to investigate the biological effects of hormone therapies, which can have implications for understanding human health and disease.
The sources of this claim, particularly the White Coat Waste Project and statements from congressional hearings, exhibit a clear bias against animal testing and the Biden Administration's policies. While they provide specific figures and project titles, they also frame the research in a negative light, emphasizing perceived cruelty and wastefulness (source-4).
Conversely, the NIH and scientific communities argue that such research is vital for advancing medical knowledge and improving health outcomes. Critics of the funding argue that animal testing often fails to translate to human health, citing that 90% of drugs that succeed in animal trials do not pass human clinical trials (source-2). This raises questions about the efficacy and ethics of such research.
Conclusion
The verdict on the claim that "Biden spent millions of dollars making mice transgender" is Partially True. While there is a factual basis regarding the funding of NIH studies related to gender-affirming therapies in mice, the framing of the claim lacks nuance and fails to acknowledge the broader scientific context. The studies are not merely about "making mice transgender" but are part of a complex investigation into hormone therapies and their effects, which may have significant implications for human health.
Sources
- Yes, Biden Spent Millions on Transgender Animal Experiments
- Mace Opens Hearing on Oversight of Taxpayer Funded Animal Cruelty
- TRANSGENDER LAB RATS AND POISONED PUPPIES ...
- $10M in Taxpayer Funds Spent Creating Transgender Animals
- New NIH grant terminations target transgender studies—even in mice - AAAS
- FACT CHECK: Does the U.S. government fund studies 'making mice ...
- Biden administration spent millions creating transgender animals to ...
- This Is What's Behind Trump's Uproar Over Transgender Mice - Forbes