Trump Administration Cuts Millions from Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program

The Trump administration has terminated millions of dollars in federal grants for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP). New guidelines direct funding toward initiatives that emphasize abstinence, fertility awareness and marriage, replacing previous support for a broader range of teen‑health services.

The TPPP, created under the Obama administration with an annual budget of about $10 million, has been criticized for limited effectiveness. Data from the Guttmacher Institute and the CDC show teen pregnancy rates began declining in the early 1990s, well before the program’s inception. HHS reports that only a few funded projects achieved long‑term reductions in unprotected sex or overall teen sexual activity, prompting the administration’s policy shift.

The move has drawn criticism from media and public‑health advocates who view the change as ideologically driven rather than evidence‑based.