Trump cut cancer research funds because he thought that they were making mice transgender

The phrase 'making mice transgender' originated from a public statement by President Trump criticizing certain federally funded research projects. However, the scientific term involved is 'transgenic mice,' which are genetically modified mice used in medical research, including cancer and asthma studies.

Several reputable sources clarify that the research in question involved transgenic mice to study hormone treatments relevant to transgender health, not changing the gender identity of mice. This confusion led to misinterpretation and political controversy.

Trump's administration did implement cuts to various scientific research programs, including cancer research funding, but these cuts were part of broader budgetary decisions rather than solely motivated by the misunderstanding about 'transgender mice.'

Experts and scientists have expressed concern that these funding cuts imperil vital life-saving research, emphasizing that the scientific community views the claims about 'making mice transgender' as inaccurate and a mischaracterization of legitimate biomedical research.

Therefore, while Trump did cut cancer research funds during his administration, attributing this action solely to a belief that researchers were making mice transgender is an oversimplification and misrepresentation of the facts.