Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is seeking to halt federal funding for a University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) research project that examines transgender health, marking another escalation in the state’s broader campaign against transgender-related medical care and research.
Marshall announced that his office is working with federal officials to stop taxpayer dollars from supporting the study, arguing that the research conflicts with the Trump administration’s policies regarding gender identity and federally funded programs. The move comes as federal agencies continue reviewing grants connected to diversity, equity, inclusion, and transgender health initiatives.
According to UAB, however, the grant in question is no longer focused exclusively on transgender health. University officials said the federally funded research has shifted its scope and is now studying broader health disparities affecting underserved populations. They also noted that the project has not received a stop-work order and that research activities are continuing under existing federal guidance.
The dispute highlights how transgender-related research has become a political target alongside gender-affirming healthcare. While many recent state and federal actions have focused on restricting access to medical treatment, this latest effort seeks to limit the scientific research that informs future healthcare decisions.
Research into transgender health has historically been underfunded compared with other areas of medicine. Universities and medical organizations have argued that studies examining the physical and mental health outcomes of transgender people help physicians develop evidence-based care while identifying health disparities that extend beyond gender-affirming treatment. UAB’s Center for the Study of Sexual and Gender Health has previously secured millions of dollars in grants supporting research into LGBTQ+ health outcomes.
Marshall’s office has been one of the nation’s most active legal opponents of transgender healthcare. The Alabama attorney general has defended the state’s restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors and has led multistate coalitions urging the federal government to eliminate public funding for gender-affirming medical care involving youth.
For LGBTQ+ advocates, the effort to terminate research funding raises concerns that political pressure could discourage universities from pursuing studies related to transgender populations, regardless of the broader public health benefits. Critics argue that reducing research funding limits the availability of high-quality scientific data at a time when policymakers increasingly cite evidence to justify legislation affecting transgender Americans.
As of now, no federal agency has announced that UAB’s grant has been terminated. The university says it will continue operating under current federal research policies unless it receives official instructions to cease work.
