Hospitals in Colorado, Virginia, and Washington D.C. have made the decision to pause gender-affirming care for young people in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at cutting federal support for such care. Denver Health in Colorado has announced that they will no longer provide gender-affirming surgeries for individuals under the age of 19 in order to comply with the executive order and continue receiving federal funding. It remains unclear if the hospital will continue to offer other gender-affirming care for youth, such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers.
Similarly, VCU Health and Children’s Hospital of Richmond in Virginia have also suspended gender-affirming medication and surgical procedures for individuals under the age of 19. In Washington D.C., Children’s National Hospital has paused prescriptions of puberty blockers and hormone therapy while they assess the situation further. The hospital clarified that they do not perform gender-affirming surgery on minors.
President Trump’s order, signed on Thursday, aims to reverse Biden administration policies that protect transgender individuals and their care. The order directs agencies to ensure that hospitals receiving federal research and education grants do not provide what it terms as “chemical and surgical mutilation of children.” Some hospitals, like Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, are reviewing the order and assessing any potential impact on the clinical services they offer.
The language used in Trump’s executive order, which includes terms like “maiming,” “sterilizing,” and “mutilation,” contradicts the typical practices of gender-affirming care in the United States. It also dismisses guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health as “junk science.” WPATH has stated that restrictions and bans on access to necessary medical care for transgender youth are harmful to patients and their families.
Gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth is not widespread. A recent study revealed that fewer than 1 in 1,000 U.S. adolescents with commercial insurance received puberty blockers or hormones over a five-year period. The majority of gender-affirming surgeries are not performed on youth.
Denver Health expressed concern that Trump’s order would impact the mental health of their transgender patients, but reiterated their commitment to providing primary and behavioral health care. They emphasized their dedication to the health and safety of their gender-diverse patients under the age of 19.
As hospitals navigate the implications of the executive order, the debate over gender-affirming care for young people continues. It is a complex issue that requires careful consideration of medical necessity, patient well-being, and legal implications. The healthcare community remains dedicated to advocating for access to medically necessary care for all individuals, regardless of their gender identity.
