Fact check: $10M in taxpayer funds spent creating transgender animals: Rep. Nancy Mace

1. Summary of the results

The claim about "$10M in taxpayer funds spent on transgender animals" requires significant context. While Rep. Nancy Mace cites specific figures, including $2.5M on transgender mice fertility studies and $1.1M on testosterone-treated rats ^[1], the actual spending and purpose of these studies are more nuanced than the headline suggests ^[2]. The specific NIH spending on transgender monkey research, for instance, was $477,121, not the higher figures sometimes quoted ^[2]. During congressional hearings, significantly different figures were presented, with Mr. Goodman claiming $241 million in spending ^[3], highlighting the inconsistency in reported numbers.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits crucial context about the purpose of these studies:

• The research was specifically aimed at understanding health impacts on transgender populations, including HIV susceptibility and hormone therapy effects ^[4]
• The studies had specific medical research purposes, rather than simply "creating transgender animals" as suggested ^[2]
• The NIH funding was targeted at understanding health risks for transgender populations ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

Several potential biases and misleading elements exist:

*Terminology and Framing:

Financial Reporting:

Beneficiaries of Different Narratives:*

• Political figures like Rep. Nancy Mace benefit from framing this as government waste
• Research institutions and medical communities benefit from emphasizing the scientific value
• Advocacy groups like the White Coat Waste Project benefit from highlighting controversial aspects of animal testing