Fact Check: Trump Claims $8,000,000 Was Spent on 'Making Mice Transgender'
What We Know
During a recent address, former President Donald Trump claimed that the Biden Administration spent approximately $8 million on "making mice transgender" as part of various research projects funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This claim has been met with scrutiny and fact-checking efforts.
According to a report from the White Coat Waste Project, which Trump referenced, over $10 million in taxpayer funds were allocated for studies involving transgender mice, rats, and monkeys. The studies primarily focused on the effects of hormone therapy and its implications for human health, particularly for transgender individuals (NBC News). The specific studies mentioned in the report include investigations into hormone therapy's effects on immune responses and reproductive health (White House).
The total funding for these studies, as outlined in the report, amounts to approximately $8,290,053, which aligns closely with Trump's claim of $8 million (White House).
Analysis
While Trump's claim about the funding amount is accurate, the characterization of the research as "making mice transgender" is misleading. The studies funded by the NIH do not aim to change the sex of the mice but rather investigate the effects of hormone therapies that are relevant to transgender health issues. For instance, one study examines the impact of gender-affirming hormone therapy on immune responses to HIV vaccines, which is crucial for understanding health disparities faced by transgender individuals (NBC News).
Critics argue that Trump's framing oversimplifies and sensationalizes complex scientific research, potentially leading to public misunderstanding about the nature of these studies. The White House's response to Trump's comments clarified that the studies focus on health effects rather than any intent to "make" animals transgender (NBC News).
The sources used to support Trump's claim, such as the White Coat Waste Project, are advocacy organizations that may have a specific agenda, which could affect their objectivity. While they provide factual data regarding funding, their interpretations and implications may be skewed toward promoting their stance against government spending on animal research (White House).
Conclusion
The claim that $8 million was spent on "making mice transgender" is Partially True. The funding amount is accurate, but the description of the research is misleading. The studies funded by the NIH focus on understanding the health effects of hormone therapies relevant to transgender individuals rather than any intent to alter the sex of the mice. This distinction is crucial for understanding the context and implications of the research.
Sources
- Yes, Biden Spent Millions on Transgender Animal Experiments
- Fact-checking Trump's anti-transgender comments in his address to Congress
- Fact Check: President Trump Did NOT Mistake 'Transgenic' For 'Transgender'
- FACT CHECK: Does the U.S. government fund studies 'making mice transgender'?
- CNN Steps On A Rake After 'Fact-Checking' Trump's 'Transgender Mice' Funding Claim
