Health officials under the Trump administration announced Thursday new federal actions aimed at restricting transgender-related medical care for minors, using Medicare and Medicaid participation as leverage against hospitals and doctors who provide such treatments.
Under newly proposed rules from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), hospitals that offer care such as puberty blockers or surgical interventions for transgender minors could lose eligibility to participate in federal health programs, effectively cutting off major sources of funding.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the administration believes these treatments do not meet recognized standards of medical care.
“These procedures fail to meet professionally recognized standards of care,” Kennedy said, describing certain forms of transgender care for minors as “malpractice.”
Medical Community Pushes Back
Major medical organizations sharply criticized the announcement, warning that the federal government is interfering in physician-patient relationships and placing children’s health at risk.
Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said the move sets a dangerous precedent.
“Allowing the government to determine which patient groups deserve care puts children and families at risk,” Kressly said, adding that medical decisions should be made by patients, families, and doctors — not politicians.
Broader Policy Shift
The proposed rules are part of a broader series of actions by the Trump administration targeting transgender people, including removing references to transgender individuals from federal websites, halting related data collection, restricting military service, and challenging state policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in school sports.
On the same day, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said the agency issued warning letters to 12 companies that market or sell breast binders for children, alleging improper marketing related to gender dysphoria.
Separately, National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said the agency would end federal support for research into gender transition, dismissing prior studies as lacking scientific merit.
What Gender-Affirming Care Includes
Gender identity care — sometimes called gender-affirming care — can involve mental health support, counseling, and, in some cases, age-appropriate medical treatments. Major medical associations say surgical interventions for minors are rare and not broadly recommended.
Organizations including the American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, Endocrine Society, and American Academy of Pediatrics have stated that evidence-based gender-affirming care can be medically appropriate and, in some cases, lifesaving.
Legal Challenges Expected
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said it will challenge the proposed rules in court, calling them unconstitutional.
“These proposals are cruel attacks on transgender youth and their families,” said Chase Strangio, co-director of the ACLU’s LGBTQ and HIV Rights Project.
Kennedy said the administration is prepared for legal challenges, stating it is confident the policies will withstand court scrutiny.
The announcement follows passage of a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that could impose criminal penalties on health care providers who offer transgender care to minors. The bill’s future in the Senate remains uncertain.
