From Fox News: A rule implemented during the Biden administration, requiring prospective foster homes to prove they will support a child’s gender transition, or lesbian, gay or bisexual status, in order to retain federal funding, has been formally rescinded by the Trump administration Friday.
A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) was published in the federal register Friday morning to formally rescind the 2022 rule titled, “Designated Placement Requirements Under Titles IV-E and IV-B for LGBTQI+ Children,” which a court in Texas already vacated in June.
The move follows a warning letter sent to all 50 states, telling them that as long as they receive federal child welfare funding, they are obligated to ensure the removal of any kid from their home must be grounded in “objective evidence of harm or imminent risk,” citing reports of states removing children from their parent’s homes because the parents disagreed with their children’s gender transition.
Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families Alex Adams told Fox News Digital that there has been a record year-over-year decrease in the number of foster families nationally. He said that the Biden-era rule is a main issue for religious-oriented families, boxing them out of the foster care system.
Adams warned there is a desperate need for more foster homes, explaining, There’s 57 homes for every 100 kids that come into the system.”
In a press release, the ACF announced:
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today sent letters to all 50 states reminding them that children may not be removed from their homes solely because parents decline to support a child’s self-identification as the opposite sex.
The letter reinforces that state child welfare agencies must base child removal decisions on objective evidence of abuse or imminent risk of harm under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). It warns states not to interpret federal definitions too broadly in ways that infringe on parental rights or lead to unnecessary foster placements by removing children for reasons that do not constitute abuse and neglect.
ACF also reminds states that removing a child based solely on a parent’s sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions may raise serious constitutional concerns, including violations of the free exercise of religion. Ultimately, removing a child for these reasons may harm both the child and the parents.
“Parents have the right to raise their children according to their sincerely held religious beliefs and moral convictions,” said Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams. “When states overstep their bounds, ACF will take action to deter inappropriate policies that drive unnecessary interactions with child welfare systems. This is one such example.”
This letter also supports ACF’s “A Home for Every Child” initiative to improve the ratio of foster homes to children in foster care. The agency warns that unnecessary removals can increase the number of children entering foster care and place added strain on the system. With this letter, ACF hopes to keep more families together and reduce the number of parents drawn into the child welfare system solely because they decline to support sex-reassignment interventions.
The letter follows troubling reports of states removing children when parents declined to support their child’s self-identification as another sex. ACF will continue to monitor states’ compliance with federal child welfare requirements and take appropriate action to ensure federal funds are used consistent with the law.
The Trump administration — through HHS’ @ACFHHS — has made significant, if underreported, progress in reforming America’s child welfare system. While no system can replace the stability of a strong family, these policies represent a genuine effort to strengthen families and… pic.twitter.com/wtxyJnBkbr
— HHS Rapid Response (@HHSResponse) March 2, 2026
At @HHSGov, we will not stand for states removing children from their families and transitioning them to a new gender against the parents’ will. Along with @ADM_Christine, we will keep families together whenever it is safe to do so.
This week, we notified all 50 states that… pic.twitter.com/yiZjPhf31L
— Alex J. Adams, PharmD, MPH (@ACF_Adams) March 4, 2026
President Trump is defending parental rights and children’s health.
Today in a letter to all 50 states, @ACFHHS sent a clear message: acknowledging biological reality and exercising sincerely held religious beliefs should not constitute child abuse or neglect under federal law. pic.twitter.com/P6ZdIZkp3o
— HHS (@HHSGov) March 3, 2026
.@ACF_Adams: “@HHSGov polices are going to defend biological reality and then second, we’re going to protect and defend parental rights including their sincerely held religious beliefs and moral convictions.” pic.twitter.com/yqG0CE19Y9
— HHS Rapid Response (@HHSResponse) March 4, 2026
Today, ACF defended biological reality and parental rights by reminding all 50 states that children may not be removed from their homes solely because parents decline to support a child’s self-identification as the opposite sex.
Read more: https://t.co/a57Q1iTzZR pic.twitter.com/yswzzYzdq9
— ACF (@ACFHHS) March 3, 2026
ACF hosted a roundtable on strengthening parental rights and advancing policies that protect children from sex-rejecting procedures. @ACF_Adams led the discussion focused on his letter to states defending biological reality and parental rights.
More: https://t.co/hd2j8vUSo5 pic.twitter.com/ZKwo4MNVza
— ACF (@ACFHHS) March 5, 2026
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