UPDATE: The Trump administration has just announced a sweeping proposal that threatens the future of gender-affirming care for minors, specifically targeting the renowned Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The new rules, unveiled by officials including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday, aim to cut off federal Medicaid and Medicare funding to hospitals providing this critical medical care.
This urgent development could have profound implications for countless families seeking support for transgender and gender-nonbinary children. CHOP, which operates one of the largest clinics in the nation dedicated to gender-affirming treatment, sees hundreds of new families each year through its Gender and Sexuality Development Program, established in 2014.
The proposed rules include severe restrictions on funding, branding the care provided to minors as “chemical mutilation.” This rhetoric has sparked outrage among advocates, who argue that gender-affirming care is essential for mental health and well-being. The new measures also suggest that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will issue warning letters to manufacturers for allegedly marketing breast binders illegally to minors.
In a shocking revelation, the U.S. Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to CHOP and at least 19 other hospitals treating transgender youth. These subpoenas demand extensive patient records, including dates of birth and Social Security numbers, which have triggered a wave of legal battles.
Just last month, U.S. District Court Judge Mark A. Kearney ruled that the privacy interests of children significantly outweigh the federal government’s need for such sensitive information. The federal government has until November 21 to appeal this ruling, creating a ticking clock for families caught in this conflict.
Legal experts predict that the proposed ban on federal funding for gender-affirming care will face substantial legal challenges. Mimi McKenzie, legal director of the Public Interest Law Center, stated, “The notion that our federal government would tell hospitals to pick which children you want to save is despicable. The cruelty of this administration knows no bounds.”
The impact of these proposed rules is already being felt. Hospitals like Nemours Children’s Hospital and UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh have announced they will no longer offer gender-affirming care beyond behavioral health services to new patients, leaving many families without critical support.
As this situation develops, advocates are mobilizing to fight back against these regulations, emphasizing the life-saving nature of gender-affirming care. The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated, as the future of transgender health care hangs in the balance. Families and advocates are urged to stay informed and engaged as the legal landscape continues to unfold.
What happens next? Expect a surge in legal actions as families challenge the federal government’s encroachment on medical care. The next 60 days will be crucial as stakeholders prepare their responses to the impending federal appeal and continued advocacy efforts ramp up.
Stay tuned for more updates as this critical story develops.
