HHS intensifies scrutiny of gender-affirming care for children

The Trump administration has stepped up efforts to restrict gender-affirming care for minors, demanding select hospitals provide financial records and clinical protocols for these services. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz gave hospitals 30 days to comply, questioning the evidence supporting such treatments. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also urged providers to revise care protocols, emphasizing psychotherapy over medical interventions like puberty blockers or surgery.

These actions follow a controversial HHS literature review claiming gender-affirming care offers limited benefits and significant risks—findings widely challenged by medical experts and major health organizations. Since early 2023, several hospitals have stopped offering pediatric gender-affirming care under federal pressure. Meanwhile, a recent Utah study supports these treatments, linking them to reduced suicidality and psychological distress in transgender youth.

04-06-2025