Newsmax: Rep. Walberg Probes Funding for MyGender Dolls

The House Education and Workforce Committee opened an investigation Friday into whether federal money helped develop MyGender Dolls, a project connected to researchers at a University of Minnesota institute.

Chairman Tim Walberg, R-Mich., wrote to the university's Eli Coleman Institute for Sexual and Gender Health seeking records on the project's funding and on any plans to use the dolls in public elementary schools.

The committee "is concerned about whether federal taxpayer dollars were used to fund the development of paper transgender dolls with removable genitalia," Walberg wrote, describing them as intended for children as young as 4.

The letter also asks what safeguards exist for parents, and Walberg said Congress may need to strengthen the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, which govern student records and surveys on sensitive topics.

The letter cited the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as well.

The developers describe the dolls as a therapeutic tool with interchangeable genitalia, gender-neutral names, and clothing for either sex, meant for use by licensed therapists working with children and their caregivers.

The University of Minnesota has disputed the premise of the inquiry.

The school said the team behind the dolls "participated in privately funded review competitions and received no state or federal dollars to support the development of the dolls or commercialization efforts" and said MyGender Dolls are not officially affiliated with the university.

The university acknowledged the connection in a 2024 annual report.

Gov. Tim Walz's office also denied involvement, saying the program "was not developed or funded by the Minnesota Department of Education and is not being implemented in Minnesota schools under the Walz Administration."

The state Education Department said the same.

The House inquiry is at least the third federal review. The Education Department opened an investigation in late July after complaints from Minnesota parents, an action announced by Secretary Linda McMahon.

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., wrote to the institute Aug. 12 demanding six categories of records, including all funding sources and communications with federal agencies, with a response due Aug. 25.

Cassidy's letter pointed to the National Science Foundation's I-Corps program, which supports a university entrepreneurship program and has received about $16 million in federal funding.