In response to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” several hospitals across the United States have suspended gender-affirming medical treatments for minors under the age of 19. The executive order, signed on January 28, 2025, directs federal agencies to withhold funding from institutions that provide puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or gender-affirming surgeries to individuals under 19.
Hospitals Implementing Suspensions:
- Denver Health (Colorado): Has ceased performing gender-affirming surgeries for individuals under 19.
- VCU Health and Children’s Hospital of Richmond (Virginia): Both institutions have halted gender-affirming medications and surgical procedures for minors.
- Children’s National Hospital (Washington, D.C.): Paused prescriptions for puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors to assess the implications of the executive order.
- NYU Langone Health (New York): Canceled appointments for minors seeking gender-affirming care, including two 12-year-olds scheduled to begin puberty blockers.
Legal and Advocacy Responses:
In contrast, New York Attorney General Letitia James has advised healthcare providers in the state to continue offering gender-affirming care to minors, emphasizing that denying such treatments could violate New York’s anti-discrimination laws.
The executive order has ignited significant debate. Advocates for transgender rights argue that gender-affirming care is essential and potentially life-saving for transgender youth. Major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, recognize these treatments as safe and necessary.
Conversely, supporters of the executive order assert that it safeguards children from irreversible medical procedures they might later regret. The order describes such treatments as “chemical and surgical mutilation,” a characterization that has been met with criticism from medical professionals and advocacy groups.
As the situation evolves, hospitals and healthcare providers are navigating the complex interplay between federal directives, state laws, and ethical considerations to determine the best course of action for their patients.