Trump's 'Transgender Mice' Claim Sparks Debate Over Federal Research Spending

President Trump alleges $8 million in taxpayer funds were used for 'transgender mice,' but experts clarify the studies involved transgenic mice for medical research.

President Trump claimed in a congressional address that the Biden administration spent $8 million on 'making mice transgender,' citing findings from the Department of Government Efficiency.
The White House supported Trump's statement, listing health studies involving mice to explore the effects of hormone therapy on various health outcomes, including HIV vaccine efficacy and breast cancer risks.
Experts clarified that the research involved transgenic mice—genetically modified for scientific study—not physically transitioned 'transgender mice.'
The claim originated from a conservative group, White Coat Waste, which has been criticized for using misleading figures to highlight government spending on animal experiments.
Fact-checkers highlighted that while the studies explored hormone therapy effects relevant to transgender health, the terminology and figures cited by Trump and his allies were exaggerated and misrepresented.

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