
(Scypre.com) – On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump signed a contentious executive order aimed at halting federal support for gender-affirming medical care for individuals under the age of 19. The move represents the latest effort in a broader campaign to curtail rights and protections for transgender individuals across the United States.
The executive order explicitly declares that the U.S. government will not “fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another.” It pledges strict enforcement of laws limiting access to such procedures, which it describes as “destructive and life-altering.”
Federal Programs and Legal Action Targeted
A significant component of the order instructs federally-funded insurance programs, such as Medicaid and TRICARE, to exclude coverage for gender-affirming care. It further directs the Department of Justice to prioritize litigation and legislative efforts to oppose such practices nationwide. This could signal significant changes for Medicaid programs in states where gender-affirming care is currently covered, and the order also places hospitals and universities that provide such care under scrutiny if they receive federal funding.
Diverging Views on Gender-Affirming Care
The language used in the executive order has sparked controversy. It characterizes gender-affirming treatments with terms like “maiming,” “sterilizing,” and “mutilation,” which starkly contrast with how such care is typically described by medical professionals. The order also dismisses guidelines from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health as “junk science.”
Major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), oppose the order and support gender-affirming care. An AAP spokesperson emphasized that “parents and families should be free to make medical decisions informed by their doctors and the available science without the interference of politics.”
Experts in gender-affirming care note that treatments for minors are typically conservative. The process often begins with a comprehensive evaluation by a team of professionals. Social transitions, such as changes in hairstyle or pronouns, may be recommended initially. Puberty blockers or hormone therapy might be considered later for some individuals, but surgical interventions are exceedingly rare for minors.
“This executive order is a brazen attempt to put politicians in between people and their doctors, preventing them from accessing evidence-based health care supported by every major medical association in the country,” said Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign. She criticized the order as a political maneuver that disregards the well-being of transgender individuals and their families.
Transgender Families Express Concern
The order has left many families with transgender children anxious about the future. Melissa Baern, the mother of an 18-year-old transgender daughter from Massachusetts, voiced her concerns. “Our biggest fear is for our daughter. Will she be able to get the care that she needs? And if she doesn’t get the care she needs, what does that mean for her? What does that mean for her mental health?” she asked.
The executive order also builds on Trump’s broader agenda to roll back transgender rights, reversing many of the protections instituted by the Biden administration. Earlier this week, Trump directed the Pentagon to review policies that could reinstate a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. In addition, the administration halted the issuance of passports with an “X” gender marker, effectively requiring transgender individuals to use travel documents that do not reflect their identities.
Divisive Policy and Legal Challenges Ahead
The new policy is expected to face legal challenges. “It’s very clear that this order, in combination with the other orders that we’ve seen over the past week, is meant to not protect anyone in this country, but rather to single-mindedly drive out transgender people of all ages from all walks of civic life,” said Harper Seldin, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) LGBTQ & HIV Project.
Seldin added that the ACLU is closely reviewing the order to determine which aspects may take immediate effect and which require further administrative actions. Given Trump’s history of legal battles over his policies, court challenges to this executive order seem likely.
The move also reflects growing polarization around transgender rights in the United States. While recent polling from AP VoteCast revealed that 52% of voters oppose banning gender-affirming medical care for minors, 47% expressed support for such restrictions. Among Trump supporters, nearly 60% backed such bans.
Broader Backdrop of State-Level Restrictions
This federal action comes as transgender rights remain a flashpoint in state legislatures. In recent years, at least 26 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors, many of which are being challenged in court. A Tennessee law banning such care is currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Republican-controlled states have also advanced legislation to prohibit transgender women and girls from competing in female sports and to restrict bathroom access for transgender individuals, particularly in schools. These measures further demonstrate the ongoing political and legal battles over transgender rights across the nation.
As Trump’s executive order takes shape, it remains unclear how these policies will be enforced and what long-term implications they will have on transgender individuals, their families, and the broader debate over medical care and personal freedoms in the United States.