NBC News reported yesterday that at least 21 hospitals have abandoned gender affirming care for minors this year. The change is being driven by the Trump administration which issued an executive order at the start of Trump’s term and which has recently been seeking documents from hospitals offering gender affirming care.
More than 20 hospitals and health systems have temporarily or indefinitely rolled back transgender care for minors and some young adults this year amid threats of federal investigations and cuts to government funding, an NBC News analysis found.
Twelve hospitals have announced they have discontinued or will discontinue puberty blockers and hormone therapy for trans patients younger than 19. Four announced they are no longer providing transition-related surgeries to those patients; one said it discontinued gender-affirming care for teens; and four said they temporarily stopped transgender care for those under 19 after an executive order from President Donald Trump in January but resumed after a judge blocked part of the order in March.
In addition to those 21 hospitals, another five have removed webpages dedicated to trans care for minors from their websites this year — one said it is still providing trans care to minors, one would only say it continues “to comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations,” and three did not respond to requests for comment.
In July the DOJ sent subpoenas to doctors and hospitals offering such care. The details of those letters were revealed last week.
The subpoena to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, sent in June, includes a seven-page list of requested documents, including “every writing or record of whatever type” made by doctors related to gender-affirming care, which includes therapy, puberty blockers, hormones and sometimes surgery. The subpoena, which was reported by The Washington Post, also requested the birth dates, Social Security numbers and addresses of patients who received transgender care.
In addition to emails, text messages and voice mail records, the subpoena also requested any messages sent or received through the encrypted WhatsApp messaging service, as well as “similar applications.”…
Even in blue states with laws that broadly allow such care, hospitals and clinics have sharply curtailed gender-related treatments for transgender youth amid the threats from the federal government. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, for example, shuttered its renowned clinic for transgender care last month.
But Axios is reporting today that that was just the start. The Trump administration is expanding its efforts to put an end to gender affirming care for minors.
The Trump administration’s crackdown on gender-affirming care is expanding rapidly as officials investigate hospitals, cut off benefits for federal workers and their dependents, and pick new fights with blue states…
“As of this month, we have really seen escalation,” said Kellan Baker, senior adviser for health policy at the Movement Advancement Project, a policy think tank.
“I think there’s this gallop to cause as much damage as possible in as short a time as possible, before the political repercussions … manifest.”
Also last week, the Office of Personnel Management announced that gender affirming care will not be covered by government health plans going forward.
In a new letter, the Office of Personnel Management has informed carriers that “chemical and surgical modification of an individual’s sex traits through medical interventions (to include gender transition services)” will no longer be covered in the Federal Employee Health Benefits program for plan year 2026.
Earlier this year, OPM issued guidance that eliminated gender-affirming care for individuals under the age of 19 but preserved the option for carriers to continue offering it to older patients…
This latest notice from OPM now eliminates that discretion entirely, prohibiting coverage of gender-affirming care for individuals of any age under the FEHB program.
At the state level, Alaska’s state medical board just made changes that could lead to punishment for medical professionals who provide gender affirming care.
Alaska medical professionals who provide gender-affirming care for children could risk disciplinary action under proposed changes to state regulations approved by the state medical board on Friday.
The board unanimously approved draft language that would add those providing medical or surgical intervention to “treat gender dysphoria or facilitate gender transition” to a state regulation outlining unprofessional conduct.
Finally, it’s worth noting that all of the coverage of this in every outlet is almost entirely negative. The framing is all from the point of view that this is bad news. NBC’s story even includes a story about a trans girl who is moving to Berlin with her mother.
One Florida mom, who asked that her name not be published due to fears that she could face harassment or be targeted by the federal government, recently bought one-way tickets to Berlin so she and her 15-year-old trans daughter could move there next month…
As for the Florida mom, she said that as soon as her daughter could talk she would point to Daphne in the cartoon “Scooby Doo” and say, “I that girl.” A psychiatrist said the child was “persistent, insistent and consistent” in her gender for years, and they have supported her and spent at least $7,500 on travel to access care in other states.
I’m sorry but taking medical direction from a 3-year-old seems like the definition of insanity. Just because a male child identified with a female cartoon character does not make that child a girl. Was there any pushback on this childhood confusion from the parents? NBC doesn’t tell us.
Update: Some breaking news on this front this afternoon. The University of Michigan is dropping gender affirming care for minors.
“The University of Michigan, including Michigan Medicine, is one of multiple institutions across the country that has received a federal subpoena as part of a criminal and civil investigation into gender-affirming care for minors,” the statement reads. “In light of that investigation, and given escalating external threats and risks, we will no longer provide gender affirming hormonal therapies and puberty blocker medications for minors.”
