Donald Trump’s administration moves to block federal funding for transgender care for minors

The proposals would block the use of Medicaid and Medicare funds for treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries for people under 18.

What the measures would do

Under the plan, hospitals that continue to provide such care to minors could lose access to federal health funding altogether. The administration is also seeking to formally prohibit Medicaid money from being used for gender-affirming procedures for children.

Health officials described the treatments as harmful, referring to them as “sex-rejecting procedures” and “medical malpractice”.

The actions build on earlier Trump administration efforts to roll back protections for transgender Americans in healthcare, education and the military.

Strong criticism from doctors and advocates

Medical professionals and transgender rights advocates strongly condemned the move, warning that it could endanger young people who rely on such care.

“The Trump Administration is forcing health care systems to choose between providing lifesaving care for LGBTQ+ young people and accepting crucial federal funding,” said Dr Jamila Perritt, president and chief executive of Physicians for Reproductive Health.

Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen of The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organisation, said the proposal amounts to “a one-size-fits-all mandate from the federal government”.

Doctors who provide gender-affirming care say the treatments are supported by major medical organisations and can significantly reduce anxiety and depression among transgender youth.

What happens next

The proposals are expected to face legal challenges, particularly from civil rights groups and medical associations. Some states already restrict or ban transgender care for minors, while others have laws protecting access to such treatment.

If implemented, the new federal rules could have nationwide effects by limiting where families can seek care and by placing financial pressure on hospitals.

The administration says the measures are necessary to protect children, while critics argue they represent an ideological attack on transgender Americans and their healthcare.