Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) has raised concerns over what he describes as wasteful federal spending in the FY26 minibus appropriations bill, citing earmarks totaling millions of taxpayer dollars for hospitals and healthcare organizations that perform gender sex-change procedures, late-term abortions and research using embryonic stem cells.
On Thursday, Ogles highlighted multiple red flags in a series of X posts, including a $995,000 allocation to AltaMed, a California-based health organization whose website defaults to Spanish, primarily serves Hispanic communities, and advertises hormone therapy and gender sex-change services.
Ogles noted that AltaMed Foundation President Zoila D. Escobar has made significant donations to Democratic candidates, raising questions about partisan influence in the earmark process.
“These earmarks are complete garbage,” Ogles wrote, emphasizing that taxpayer funds are being directed toward projects that, in his view, conflict with Americans’ priorities amid a national debt approaching $38.5 trillion.
According to Ogles, other earmarks in the spending package support hospitals performing controversial procedures, including “trans” surgeries for minors and abortions in later stages of pregnancy.
He listed allocations including $3 million to Denver Health in Colorado, $968,000 to RWJBarnabas Health in New Jersey, $1.5 million to EvergreenHealth Monroe in Washington and more than $4 million to Christiana Care in Delaware.
The list also highlights funding to Northern Light Health in Maine, Lurie Children’s Hospital in Illinois, New York Stem Cell Foundation and Seattle Children’s Hospital, among others.
“These projects fund gender transitions, late-term abortions, and research using embryonic stem cells—all while Americans face record debt,” Ogles wrote. “We cannot and should not be spending hard-earned taxpayer dollars on this garbage.”
He pledged to support amendments, including one proposed by Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), to eliminate earmarks funding projects that he says prioritize partisan or radical agendas over core healthcare needs.
The Republican lawmaker criticized specific projects that he claims promote what he calls “child grooming,” including a $200,000 allocation to a Charlottesville, Virginia, child-care center hosting LGBT support groups.
Another earmark highlighted by Ogles directs funding to Maryland Global Refuge, an organization involved in resettling migrants, including Somali immigrants, into the United States.
Ogles linked some of these allocations to Democratic sponsors, citing Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s prior support for related initiatives.
Ogles and other GOP lawmakers argue that the spending package demonstrates a lack of fiscal restraint and oversight, with millions earmarked for programs they describe as ideologically driven.
The bill’s earmarks, they say, extend beyond healthcare to encompass gender transistion care for minors, abortion services and federally funded research into embryonic stem cells derived from IVF or cloned embryos.
The lawmaker’s announcement comes amid broader debates over federal spending priorities, transparency in earmarks and the role of partisanship in appropriations.
Advocates for the earmarked programs argue that these funds support critical healthcare services, including gender transition care, maternal health and research into complex medical conditions.
However, Ogles contends that these projects do not reflect the values or interests of the majority of American taxpayers and constitute reckless spending at a time of escalating national debt.
As the FY26 minibus moves through Congress, Ogles has vowed to continue scrutinizing earmarks and push for amendments to halt allocations he considers wasteful or politically motivated.
The debate underscores the ongoing tensions in federal budget decisions between partisan priorities, ethical considerations, and the allocation of taxpayer resources.
