Also Like

Trump Bars Federal Funding for Youth Gender-Affirming Care

New Executive Order Restricts Medical Interventions for Minors Under 19, Sparking Debate Over Transgender Rights

Trump Bars Federal Funding for Youth Gender-Affirming Care

Trump Bars Federal Funding for Youth Gender-Affirming Care


US President Donald Trump has enacted an executive order halting federal funding for medical interventions associated with gender transition procedures for individuals under 19 years old. This action aligns with a wider initiative to reverse transgender-affirming policies implemented under the previous Biden administration.

Titled Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation, the order, signed on Tuesday, prohibits federal agencies from financing, endorsing, or facilitating medical practices that assert minors can undergo irreversible sex-related changes through hormonal or surgical means. The White House explicitly defines “children” as those under 19 and specifies that the term “chemical and surgical mutilation” includes puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and gender-affirming surgeries.

The directive condemns what it describes as “child-abusive practices,” attributing responsibility to guidelines from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). The order accuses WPATH of promoting unscientific standards and mandates federal agencies to revoke policies informed by the organization. Additionally, government-sponsored health programs like Tricare (for military personnel) and Medicaid are now required to deny coverage for such treatments.

The executive order further instructs the Department of Justice to draft legislation enabling legal recourse for minors and families affected by gender-related medical interventions, framing these procedures as damaging to “healthy body parts.” It emphasizes strict enforcement of existing laws restricting these practices.

Since assuming office, Trump has introduced several policies reinforcing a binary view of gender, declaring that federal policy recognizes only “male and female” as legitimate genders. These measures dismantle protections for transgender individuals and dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs established during Biden’s presidency.

Earlier this week, Trump also signed an order aimed at eradicating “radical gender ideology” from the military, asserting that only individuals meeting stringent mental and physical fitness criteria should serve.