The US federal government moves to cut federal funding for gender-affirming treatments for minors, prompting widespread opposition and potential legal challenges amid ongoing battles over transgender rights in the US.
The Trump administration on Tuesday moved to bar federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program money from paying for gender-affirming care for people under 19, setting up a major policy fight over treatment for transgender minors. According to CNBC, the rule covers puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery and is due to take effect on October 13, although state funding would not be affected. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said the change followed a review of research by the Department of Health and Human Services and concluded that the evidence was not strong enough to justify federal taxpayer support.
The administration has framed the policy as a child-protection measure, while critics say it will deny medically appropriate care to vulnerable patients. Axios reported that federal officials have described the treatments as “sex-rejecting procedures”, a term rejected by major medical groups, including the American Medical Association, which supports gender-affirming care for youth with gender dysphoria. AP reported that mental health services for transgender minors will still be covered, but other treatments will be phased out by April 2027.
The move comes amid a wider push by the Trump White House to restrict transgender rights, including efforts targeting hospitals, school sports and passport sex markers, AP reported. Advocates including the Human Rights Campaign are expected to challenge the rule in court, and state bans already cover gender-affirming care for minors in at least 27 states. Supporters of the policy argue the federal government should not fund treatments they view as irreversible or unsafe, while medical organizations and LGBTQ+ groups warn that limiting access could worsen mental health outcomes for young people.
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