A group of House Republicans is seeking to prohibit the use of federal funds for so-called “transgender animal” experiments, a push that could affect future National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants and the direction of scientific research in the United States.

According to Fox News, Mace, Gosar, and several colleagues sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging the inclusion of specific language in the Fiscal Year 2026 spending bill to halt such research.

The lawmakers’ letter cites concerns about taxpayer dollars being used to fund experiments where animals undergo hormone therapies and invasive surgeries to mimic gender transitions. They argue this research is not only “wasteful” but also “disturbing,” and they want Congress to take immediate action to cut off funding.

House Republicans target NIH research

The House GOP effort, led by Reps. Paul Gosar, Elijah Crane, Abraham J. Hamadeh, Lauren Boebert, Brandon Gill, Nancy Mace, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Pete Stauber, and Troy E. Nehls, focuses on research supported through NIH grants during President Joe Biden’s administration. The lawmakers allege that millions of taxpayer dollars have gone toward studies designed to create “transfeminine” and “transmasculine” lab animals using hormone therapies and surgeries.

The Republicans’ letter, addressed to Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, asks for language in the FY2026 appropriations bill stating, “None of the funds made available by this or any other Act thereafter may be used for research on vertebrate animals for the purpose of studying the effects of drugs, surgery, or other interventions to alter the human body… to no longer correspond to its biological sex.” This language, if enacted, would effectively ban federally funded research on gender transition in animals.

According to the lawmakers, these NIH-backed experiments have included wounding, shocking, and injecting lab animals with various substances, including street drugs and vaccines. They claim such procedures have little scientific merit and should not be paid for with public funds.

Trump administration and watchdog support

President Donald Trump has repeatedly condemned “transgender animal” experiments, making the issue a talking point in speeches and budget discussions. The Department of Government Efficiency, under his administration, has already cut millions in NIH grants that were funding this line of research. Despite these actions, House Republicans say dozens of NIH grants for similar research remain active and continue to receive federal money.

The White Coat Waste Project, a government watchdog group, played a prominent role in bringing attention to these experiments and advocating for the cuts. The group’s senior vice president, Justin Goodman, praised the GOP-led effort, saying:

Thanks to White Coat Waste’s viral investigations and collaboration with Rep. Paul Gosar and others in Congress, the Trump Administration has slashed spending on wasteful experiments that subject lab animals to invasive surgeries and hormone therapies to crudely mimic gender transitions in kids and adults and then wound, shock and inject the animals with vaccines and overdoses of sex party drugs.

Goodman emphasized that while cuts have saved thousands of animals and millions of dollars, more work is needed. According to the group, 29 taxpayer-funded grants for transgender animal research remain active, and further congressional action is required to halt them permanently.

Critics question motives and science

Not everyone is on board with the Republican push. Some scientific researchers and policy advocates argue that animal research, including studies involving hormone therapy or surgeries, can provide valuable insights into human medicine and help improve treatments for a range of conditions. They warn that a sweeping ban could hinder progress in understanding complex biological processes.

Critics of the GOP proposal also question whether the language in the letter is too broad, potentially sweeping up unrelated research that has legitimate scientific value. They argue that oversight and peer review, rather than blanket bans, should guide decisions about which experiments receive taxpayer support.

Supporters of federally funded animal research point out that many studies are strictly regulated and must meet ethical standards before receiving approval. They caution against political interference in scientific decision-making, warning it could have unintended consequences for future medical breakthroughs.

What happens next for the spending bill

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies will consider the proposed language as it crafts the Fiscal Year 2026 spending bill. Lawmakers on both sides are preparing for a heated debate, with conservatives determined to see the ban included and opponents promising to defend scientific research.

If the language is adopted, it would mark a significant change in the way federal dollars are used for medical research. The outcome could impact not only NIH grant recipients but also the broader scientific community that relies on government funding for innovation and discovery.

Observers expect the issue to remain contentious as the appropriations process moves forward. Both supporters and critics are likely to make their voices heard in the coming weeks as Congress negotiates the final details of the budget.