4-H programs continue to adopt gender identity housing even after guidance was revoked

Concerns Over Gender Policies in Federally Supported Youth Programs

Some youth programs funded by the federal government still permit participants and camp counselors to stay overnight based on self-identified gender, rather than biological sex. This continues despite the fact that earlier rules aligned with these policies were withdrawn under the Trump administration, according to a nonprofit organization.

The Washington Area Practical Federalism Center revealed that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees the 4-H Youth Program, which is managed by public universities across the nation to evaluate its adherence to gender ideological standards.

The 4-H Program provides a variety of activities for youth through over 100 public universities in fields like health, science, agriculture, and civic engagement.

Addressing a separate issue, the Center for Practical Federalism is part of a nonprofit called the State Policy Network, which aims to educate the public and policymakers on federalism and its relationship with state and national politics.

A problematic situation arose in 2017 when the National 4-H Council and USDA’s National Food and Agriculture Institute published guidance regarding the inclusion of diverse gender identities on a USDA-managed website. Although this guidance was later retracted, an executive order from the Trump administration mandated that intimate spaces designated for women and men should be defined by biological sex.

Additionally, the Practical Federalism Center claims that current policies in the 4-H program still allow for the prioritization of gender identity over biological sex. Notably, an incident at Rock Springs Ranch 4-H Camp in Kansas involved a person biologically male but identifying as female being housed with a preteen girl, highlighting the ongoing issues with these policies.

The Kansas 4-H Foundation has not updated its gender policy to align with current federal directives, which forbids housing discrimination based on gender identity. This persistence of gender identity-based policies raises concerns about parental rights and child safety, as emphasized by the Center’s representatives.

While the Kansas 4-H Foundation has yet to respond to inquiries regarding these issues, similar policies exist in other states, including California and Oregon, where the 4-H program’s documents and training materials align with gender identity instead of biological sex.

The Center for Practical Federalism is advocating for the USDA to review all federally funded 4-H programs to identify lingering gender ideological policies and set formal standards to ensure regulatory guidance does not sidestep legitimate rule-making.