Fact-Checking the “Transgender Mice” Claim: How Misinformation Fuels Hate

Political misinformation thrives on fear, outrage, and culture war talking points. One of the most absurd claims in recent years is the idea that taxpayer money was used to create “transgender mice.” This statement, pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump and amplified by right-wing media, is not just scientifically inaccurate. It is a calculated attempt to stoke transphobia and justify attacks on both trans people and scientific research.

The Truth Behind the Claim

The “transgender mice” myth originates from a 2017 study funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at the University of California, San Francisco. This study examined how sex hormones impact immune system responses. Research like this is crucial for understanding why diseases affect men and women differently.

Scientists have long known that conditions like autoimmune disorders disproportionately impact women, while men have a higher risk of heart disease. Research like this helps us develop better treatments for all people by analyzing how hormonal differences influence immune responses.

The claim that taxpayer money was used to create “transgender mice” is a misrepresentation of scientific research involving transgenic mice (mice genetically modified to study specific biological processes). This misunderstanding has not only led to misinformation but has also been weaponized to fuel transphobia and undermine essential scientific research.

So what did the study actually do? It did not create “transgender mice.” Instead, researchers used standard biomedical techniques such as hormone treatments and genetic modifications to study how immune cells respond to hormonal changes. These methods have been used for decades to advance medicine in areas ranging from cancer research to osteoporosis treatments. These studies are crucial for understanding various medical conditions and developing effective therapies. Transgenic mice are genetically engineered to carry genes from other species, allowing researchers to observe specific physiological responses and disease progressions. For example, scientists use transgenic mice to investigate how hormone treatments might influence cancer development or progression. This research is vital for creating safe and effective medical protocols for hormone-related therapies. Misinterpreting these studies as creating “transgender mice” not only distorts the purpose of the research but also spreads misinformation that can hinder scientific progress.

Hank Green, a well-known science communicator, weighed in on the claim, pointing out how misinformation fueled this talking point:

“The ‘transgender mice’ talking point is bullshit, but not because someone mistook ‘transgenic’ for ‘transgender.’ The blog post that kicked it off (from a partisan bullshit website) listed a number of papers testing the effects of sex hormones on animals.”

Green further emphasized the importance of this research and called out the real motivations behind the claim:

“That research is important and helps us understand the world better. Calling it ‘making transgender mice’ is stupid and comes from a place of wanting a society that does not contain trans people.”

Weaponized Misinformation: A Tool for Transphobia

The spread of misinformation regarding “transgender mice” contributes to the stigmatization of transgender individuals. By mischaracterizing scientific research, such narratives perpetuate harmful stereotypes and leads to policies that further marginalize the transgender community. The cessation of studies focused on transgender health impedes the development of medical protocols tailored to their specific needs, exacerbating existing health disparities. By framing the research in this misleading way, certain political figures have worked to delegitimize both the scientific community and the transgender community. This rhetoric contributes to a hostile environment for transgender individuals, reinforcing harmful stereotypes and misconceptions. It also distracts from the real issues facing the transgender community, such as discrimination, lack of access to healthcare, and social stigmatization.

This is not just an isolated case of scientific ignorance. It is part of a broader pattern. The Trump administration has a well-documented history of attacking transgender people’s rights, rolling back protections in healthcare, housing, and military service. By framing legitimate scientific research as “taxpayer-funded transgender experiments,” this rhetoric serves two purposes.

To delegitimize transgender identities. By reducing trans existence to something “unnatural” or “manufactured,” this claim plays into broader anti-trans narratives that suggest trans people are “created” rather than simply existing.
To justify cuts to science funding. Once the outrage machine is fired up, it becomes easier to defund research under the guise of stopping “wasteful spending,” even when that research is crucial for medical advancements.

By reducing trans existence to a punchline or an absurd political talking point, these attacks send a clear message: that trans people should not be seen, acknowledged, or supported. This kind of narrative:

Encourages policies that deny trans people access to gender-affirming healthcare, despite overwhelming medical consensus that such care is life-saving
Fuels discrimination and harassment, increasing the risk of violence against trans individuals
Further isolates trans youth, who already face alarmingly high rates of depression and suicide due to societal rejection

The Real Cost: Millions Cut from Life-Saving Research

This misinformation has real-world consequences. The political backlash fueled by these claims contributed to funding cuts for the NIH, including research into cancer treatments and autoimmune diseases. Millions of dollars have been stripped from vital medical studies because of the manufactured outrage over supposed “woke science.” These cancellations are part of a broader initiative influenced by Executive Order 14168, which mandates the removal of content related to “gender ideology” from federally funded research. This directive has resulted in the cessation of numerous studies, hindering advancements in understanding health disparities and developing targeted medical interventions. The abrupt termination of these grants has disrupted ongoing research projects and created uncertainty among scientists. Researchers are concerned about the long-term implications for public health and scientific innovation, as studies essential for developing treatments for various conditions are halted.

When scientific research is misrepresented for political gain, it undermines public trust in science. This erosion of trust can have far-reaching consequences, affecting public health initiatives and the implementation of evidence-based policies. The irony? The very research being attacked could help develop better treatments for conditions that impact all people, trans and cis alike.

The Dangers of Anti-Science Fearmongering: How Misinformation Harms Us All

The claim that taxpayer dollars were spent on “transgender mice” is not just false. It is an intentional distortion designed to fuel bigotry and undermine scientific research. Whether Trump himself understood the claim or not, the impact of this rhetoric is undeniable. It distracts from real policy discussions, erodes trust in science, and fuels a hostile climate for trans people.

But the damage does not stop there. As Hank Green pointed out, this kind of misinformation does not just harm trans people. It harms everyone by undermining medical progress. When scientific research is demonized and defunded based on political spin, the consequences extend far beyond one community.

The Impact on Public Health and Medical Advancements

Cutting funding for scientific research does not just slow down the progress of LGBTQ+ health studies. It stalls advancements in medicine across the board. Research into hormone interactions is vital for treating conditions such as:

Osteoporosis, which disproportionately affects postmenopausal women
Autoimmune diseases, which affect women at higher rates than men
Cancer treatments, many of which are influenced by hormone regulation
Heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide, which presents differently in men and women

By cutting research grants and discouraging future studies, we lose crucial insights into these conditions, delaying breakthroughs that could save millions of lives. Misinformation-fueled policies do not only harm trans people. They make medical advancements slower and less effective for everyone.

The Broader Attack on Science and Education

This kind of disinformation feeds into a larger trend of political hostility toward scientific institutions. When leaders misrepresent research for ideological gain, it sets a dangerous precedent:

Scientists are discouraged from pursuing important research out of fear of political backlash
Public trust in medical institutions erodes, making it harder to combat real health crises
Education systems face increasing pressure to censor discussions around gender, identity, and even basic biology

The effect is chilling. When science becomes a target of culture war hysteria, society as a whole suffers. We have seen this pattern play out in areas like climate change, vaccine research, and public health initiatives. The rejection of scientific reality in favor of ideological narratives leads to worse health outcomes, more preventable deaths, and a less informed public.

Fighting Back Against Misinformation

This is a clear example of how misinformation can be weaponized to harm marginalized communities and impede scientific progress. It is crucial to critically evaluate such claims and understand the actual science behind the research. By doing so, we can push back against bad-faith narratives and support both the trans community and the scientists working to improve lives.

Combating misinformation means:

Supporting science education and literacy so that the public can recognize bad-faith distortions
Advocating for evidence-based policy decisions that prioritize public health over ideological attacks
Defending the rights of transgender people against efforts to erase or demonize them
Calling out those who spread misinformation and holding leaders accountable for their rhetoric

The Cost of Ignorance is Too High

The attack on trans people under the guise of “protecting taxpayer dollars” has already had devastating consequences, from defunded medical research to increased transphobic violence. If we allow disinformation to dictate policy, we risk not only harming marginalized groups but also setting back decades of medical and scientific progress.

Science is not the enemy. Trans people are not the enemy. Misinformation is.

It is the opinion of this author that a society that values truth, progress, and human dignity must reject dishonest narratives and stand in defense of both scientific integrity and the rights of all people. Anything less is a step backward.

Sources Used:

_{Hank Green on Bluesky}

_{NIH Announces Some Key Grant Review Meetings Will Restart in Late March – Science.org}

_{New NIH Grant Terminations Target Transgender Studies—Even in Mice – Science.org}

_{Trump’s Science Data Policy on Gender and DEI – The Atlantic}

_{Trump’s Science NIH Censorship Blackout – Vox}

_{NIH Orders Researchers to Halt HIV Prevention Program for Trans Youth of Color – Them.us}

_{This Is What’s Behind the Uproar Over Transgenic Mice – Forbes}