Children’s National Hospital to Stop Gender-Affirming Care for Minors Amid Legal and Regulatory Concerns
Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., has announced it will discontinue gender-affirming medical interventions for minors starting August 30. This decision comes amid escalating legal and regulatory challenges, including a recent Department of Justice inquiry and a Trump-era executive order targeting federal funding for such procedures. While the hospital stated that mental health and other support services remain available for LGBTQ+ patients, it will no longer provide hormone therapy or surgery for minors. The move has drawn attention from advocacy groups, who described the change as a setback for transgender youth and their families. The hospital acknowledged the impact on affected patients and is working directly with families to assist them through this transition.
The announcement coincides with ongoing legal pressures faced by healthcare providers offering gender-affirming care. The Department of Justice has issued multiple subpoenas to doctors and clinics involved in performing such procedures on children, with Attorney General Pamela Bondi stating that the investigation focuses on healthcare fraud and false statements. Although the hospital did not confirm whether it received a subpoena, the legal risks cited in its decision reflect a broader trend of scrutiny faced by providers in this field.
This decision follows a nationwide executive order issued by former President Donald Trump, which aimed to restrict Medicare and Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care for minors. Although a court blocked the order temporarily, several hospitals, including Children’s National, paused such services before resuming them after the court intervention. The Trump administration’s stance on the issue has intensified the regulatory environment for healthcare providers, contributing to the decision by Children’s National to stop offering these interventions.
Advocacy groups have expressed concern over the hospital’s decision, with Metro DC PFLAG board president Ben Takai stating that the change is a sad development and highlights the broader challenges faced by minority communities. The hospital’s website notes that some young people may experience a gender identity that differs from their birth sex and emphasizes the importance of parental consent for minors. However, the hospital also clarifies that it does not provide gender-affirming surgery for anyone under 18 and does not administer hormone therapy before puberty.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released a report warning about the risks of gender-affirming treatments for minors, arguing that such interventions carry significant health risks, including infertility, sexual dysfunction, and long-term medical complications. The report suggests replacing most medical interventions with exploratory therapy and highlights the lack of definitive evidence supporting the benefits of these treatments. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has banned puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria, and the Center for Transyouth Health and Development at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has announced its closure due to similar pressures from the Trump administration.
Children’s National’s decision has sparked a broader debate about the role of healthcare institutions in providing gender-affirming care. While the hospital maintains that it is prioritizing legal and regulatory compliance, critics argue that the move undermines the well-being of transgender youth and highlights the political and legal challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community in healthcare. As the situation develops, the impact on patients, families, and healthcare providers remains a critical issue for ongoing discussion.