USDA vs. Newsom: Billions at Stake in Gender Identity Fight

California Governor Gavin Newsom thought he could outsmart the system. With the stroke of a pen on Assembly Bill 1955, he’s locked parents out of their own kids’ lives, barring schools from sharing a student’s gender identity with mom and dad unless the child greenlights it. Now, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Secretary Brooke Rollins, is throwing down the gauntlet. In a blistering letter dated March 27, 2025, Rollins warned Newsom that this rogue state law isn’t just a slap in the face to parents—it’s a direct violation of federal mandates, putting billions in taxpayer dollars on the chopping block.

This isn’t some petty bureaucratic squabble. The Trump administration, now in its second wind, has made it crystal clear: federal funds don’t flow to states that thumb their noses at the Constitution or laws like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Rollins’ letter signals a broader crackdown, with the USDA joining forces with the Department of Education to root out California’s defiance. For taxpayers footing the bill and parents fighting to stay in the loop, it’s about time someone stood up to Sacramento’s overreach.

Let’s break it down. FERPA, enacted back in 1974, isn’t a suggestion; it’s a bedrock federal law giving parents the right to peek into their kids’ education records. That includes any hint of what’s happening with their child’s identity at school. California’s new law, effective January 1, 2025, tries to sidestep this by letting schools hide gender identity details in separate, parent-proof files. The California Justice Center isn’t mincing words: every public school in the state is now effectively stonewalling parents from their legal rights. That’s not just a policy glitch; it’s a deliberate power grab.

The stakes are sky-high. California rakes in $16.3 billion annually in federal education funds—think $2 billion for low-income kids and $1.33 billion for special education. Add in the $2.6 billion the University of California system snagged from the National Institutes of Health last year, and you’ve got a state hooked on federal cash. Rollins and her team aren’t bluffing when they say noncompliance could dry up that pipeline. Newsom’s betting he can defy Washington and keep the money flowing, but history tells a different story. From Brown v. Board of Education to No Child Left Behind, when push comes to shove, federal law trumps state grandstanding every time.

This fight isn’t just about dollars; it’s about families. Over 300,000 U.S. teens now identify as transgender, a number that’s doubled in recent years. From 2017 to 2023, providers performed over 13,000 medical interventions on minors—puberty blockers, hormones, even surgeries—raking in big profits while leaving kids with irreversible changes like infertility or stunted growth. The USDA’s letter nails it: California’s secrecy fuels a ‘radical transgender ideology’ that alienates families and fast-tracks kids into life-altering decisions without parental input. A California mom’s lawsuit, revived by a federal court, proves the point—school staff socially transitioned her child behind her back, and she’s still picking up the pieces.

Supporters of AB 1955 claim it shields vulnerable kids from unsupportive homes. That’s a convenient excuse. If a child’s safety is truly at risk, FERPA already allows exceptions for emergencies. What California’s doing instead is handing schools a blank check to play gatekeeper, cutting parents out of the equation entirely. Across the pond, nations like Sweden and the UK are pumping the brakes on youth gender treatments, citing shaky long-term evidence. Yet here, Newsom’s crew doubles down, gambling with kids’ futures while preaching compassion. It’s a sham—and families are paying the price.

Enter President Trump and his no-nonsense squad. This isn’t their first rodeo. From banning men in women’s sports at the University of Maine to slashing diversity handouts, the administration’s laser-focused on realigning education with common sense and parental authority. Rollins’ move at the USDA syncs perfectly with that mission, backing the Education Department’s probe into California’s FERPA violations with muscle and money. It’s a one-two punch aimed at reminding states who’s boss when federal funds are in play.

California’s not alone in testing the waters—other states have flirted with similar gender privacy rules—but none match its brazen scale. With the Trump team now flexing its second-term clout, the message is loud and clear: play by the rules, or pay up. Taxpayers aren’t here to bankroll Newsom’s social experiments, and parents aren’t about to let bureaucrats raise their kids. The USDA’s review isn’t just a warning shot; it’s a promise to hold the line.

Here’s where it lands. California’s defiance isn’t noble; it’s reckless. Newsom’s law doesn’t protect kids—it hands power to school officials and ideologues who think they know better than the people who’ve raised these children. The USDA’s stepping in because someone had to. With billions on the table and families hanging in the balance, this isn’t a game Sacramento can win. Federal law has teeth, and the Trump administration’s ready to bite.

Parents deserve answers, not secrecy. Kids deserve guidance, not agendas. If California wants to keep its federal lifeline, it’s time to ditch the gender games and respect the rules that keep our schools accountable. Rollins’ letter isn’t the end—it’s the start of a reckoning. For every parent locked out and every taxpayer footing the bill, this fight’s worth having. Washington’s watching, and so are we.