Fact Check: The Biden administration spent $8 million to make mice transgender

Fact Check: "The Biden administration spent $8 million to make mice transgender"

What We Know

The claim that the Biden administration spent $8 million to make mice transgender originates from statements made by former President Donald Trump and has been echoed by various political figures. Specifically, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) allocated funds for several studies involving hormone treatments in mice, which are part of broader research into gender-affirming therapies. The total amount cited by Trump is approximately $8.29 million, which includes funding for multiple studies such as:

$455,000 for a study on the effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy on immune responses in mice.
$2,500,000 for research on reproductive consequences of steroid hormone administration.
$299,940 for examining the effects of gender-affirming testosterone therapy on breast cancer risk.
$735,113 for microbiome effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy.
$1,200,000 for studying androgen effects on reproductive neuroendocrine functions.
$3,100,000 for research on gonadal hormones and asthma outcomes (source-1, source-6).

These studies are aimed at understanding various aspects of gender-affirming care and its implications on health, particularly in relation to hormone treatments.

Analysis

The claim that the Biden administration spent $8 million specifically to "make mice transgender" simplifies and misrepresents the nature of the research funded. While the NIH did allocate funds for studies involving hormone treatments in mice, these studies are intended for scientific research rather than a direct effort to alter the gender identity of the animals.

The sources of this claim, including statements from Trump and Congresswoman Nancy Mace, emphasize the perceived wastefulness of such spending, framing it within a broader narrative of government overreach and animal cruelty (source-2, source-3). However, these statements may carry political bias, as they are made by individuals with clear partisan agendas.

Furthermore, the studies funded by the NIH are part of ongoing research into health issues that can affect both humans and animals, and the results may provide insights into medical treatments and health outcomes. The assertion that these experiments are "cruel and unnecessary" is contested by some in the scientific community, who argue that animal research can be vital for understanding complex biological processes (source-4).

Conclusion

The claim that the Biden administration spent $8 million to make mice transgender is Partially True. While it is accurate that the NIH funded studies totaling approximately $8.29 million involving hormone treatments in mice, the characterization of these efforts as solely aimed at "making mice transgender" is misleading. The research is intended for scientific inquiry into health impacts related to gender-affirming therapies, rather than a direct attempt to alter the animals' gender identity.