Major hospitals across the United States have begun halting gender-affirming care for minors, citing a directive from President Donald Trump’s executive order issued on January 28, 2025. Rush Medical Center in Chicago, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Stanford Medicine have confirmed that they are suspending hormone treatments and surgeries for patients under 18. The decision aligns with the administration’s broader policy to curtail ‘chemical and surgical mutilation,’ as defined by the executive order, which prohibits the federal government from funding or supporting gender transition procedures for children.
While adults will continue to receive gender-related treatments, minors who had already begun therapy or care remain unaffected. The order, titled ‘Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,’ emphasizes the prioritization of legal and medical safeguards for minors, particularly regarding procedures that could alter their physical and mental health. It defines ‘chemical and surgical mutilation’ as including puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries, which the administration argues pose significant risks to children’s well-being.
Following the executive order, the Department of Justice has intensified its oversight by issuing over 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics involved in providing transgender medical procedures to minors. Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized that medical professionals who have engaged in ‘warped ideology’ will be held accountable. This development has prompted some hospitals to update their websites and policies, removing references to gender-affirming care for minors and replacing them with more general statements about support for youth.
Critics of the policy argue that such measures reflect ideological opposition to gender-affirming medical interventions rather than a scientific consensus. Advocates for LGBTQ+ youth stress the importance of compassionate and informed medical decisions, emphasizing the need for comprehensive mental health support before irreversible procedures. Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon, and Jonathan Alpert, a Manhattan psychotherapist, have both cautioned against surgical interventions for minors, advocating instead for thorough psychological evaluations and alternative treatments to address gender dysphoria.
The controversy extends beyond medical ethics, raising concerns about the balance between individual rights, parental authority, and government oversight. While some view the suspensions as a necessary safeguard to protect minors from potentially irreversible procedures, others argue that the policies could exacerbate mental health challenges for youth. As the debate continues, hospitals and medical professionals remain under scrutiny, with their responses shaping the evolving landscape of gender-affirming care in the U.S.