Trump's 'Transgender Mice' Remark Ignites Debate Over Federal Research Spending

The White House defends $8 million in NIH-funded studies on hormone therapy in mice as critics question the president's terminology and claims.

During a March 4 address to Congress, President Trump criticized $8 million in federal spending on what he described as 'making mice transgender,' a claim that has drawn scrutiny and sparked confusion.
The White House clarified that the president was referencing NIH-funded studies involving hormone treatments in mice, which aim to model gender-affirming therapies and their effects on health conditions such as asthma and breast cancer.
Experts and fact-checkers noted that Trump appeared to conflate 'transgenic mice,' genetically modified for research, with 'transgender mice,' a term not used in the studies cited.
Social media reactions ranged from mockery to serious discussions on the importance of research into gender-affirming treatments, with some users highlighting the studies' potential medical benefits.
The controversy underscores ongoing political tensions surrounding gender-related issues and federal research funding, as Trump vows to curtail 'woke' initiatives in government.