The University of Michigan’s transgender health research just took a major hit after the National Institutes of Health (NIH) pulled funding from multiple studies, following political pressure from the Trump administration.
A recent UMich study found that gender-affirming hormone therapy significantly reduces depression symptoms in transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse adults. But research like this is facing increasing scrutiny and budget cuts due to new executive orders and ongoing debates over transgender healthcare.
Earlier this month, Trump slammed the NIH for funding transgender-related studies, even making a bizarre reference to “making mice transgender” during a speech before Congress. Soon after, the administration publicly called out a $2.5 million grant given to UMich for researching the reproductive effects of hormone therapy using animal models.
By March 25, at least seven UMich grants had been canceled five of which focused on gender identity in some way. These included studies on HIV prevention, intimate partner violence, and even tobacco-related deaths, totaling $2.2 million in cuts. Researchers were notified by email, with letters explicitly stating that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are no longer priorities for the NIH.
One of the affected researchers, Sari Reisner, was working on strategies to prevent HIV in transgender men. He emphasized that gender-affirming hormone therapy is medically necessary and improves mental health outcomes over time. “Public health serves the public, and that includes trans people,” he said.
But the funding cuts aren’t the only problem. Federal agencies are also quietly removing transgender health data from public databases, making it harder to track issues like discrimination and healthcare access. Researchers have even been told to stop including gender-affirming questions in studies or risk losing funding altogether.
The political climate is already causing harm, according to Shanna Kattari, a UMich professor studying transgender healthcare access. “Many trans people are avoiding care altogether out of fear whether it’s routine check-ups or gender-affirming treatments,” they said. Kattari also pointed out that many faculty members have had projects terminated mid-study, leaving crucial research in limbo.
Kristi Gamarel, another UMich professor, said she has personally lost funding for seven NIH-backed studies. “These political moves don’t just stall scientific progress—they widen healthcare disparities and put lives at risk,” she warned.
Despite the setbacks, researchers and advocates are refusing to back down. Kattari urged allies to step up, whether by pushing for university funding, challenging the government in court, or simply ensuring that research still includes accurate gender-related data.
Meanwhile, UMich senior Jackie Moreno, editor-in-chief of the student publication The Michigan Gayly, had a message for those trying to erase transgender people from the conversation: “We’ve always existed, and we’ll continue to exist. You can change the funding rules, but that won’t make us disappear.”
