Summary
President Trump plans to restrict medical care for transgender youth by stopping federal Medicaid and CHIP funding for such services. The new proposals from the Department of Health and Human Services would make it very hard for hospitals to provide pediatric gender-affirming care, with an expected public release of the rules in early November. These changes could make accessing this care difficult across the country, as it is already banned in many states.
Key Facts
- President Trump issued an executive order to end federal support for gender-affirming care for children.
- Proposed rules would stop federal Medicaid funding for transgender medical care for patients under 18.
- CHIP, a program for children’s healthcare, would also not cover these services for patients under 19.
- Another proposed rule would block Medicaid and Medicare funds for any hospitals offering pediatric gender-affirming care.
- Around 27 states already ban pediatric gender-affirming care.
- The rules are expected to be publicly released in early November, with public comment following.
- Prior cuts include cancelling a suicide prevention service and scientific research funding related to LGBTQ+ youth.
- Legal actions and subpoenas have been directed at some children's hospitals providing this care.
