Trump Administration Halts Medicaid Funding for Gender Transition Surgeries for Minors
The Trump administration has announced a halt to funding gender transition surgeries for minors using Medicaid. President Donald Trump made this announcement on Tuesday through a Truth Social post. He instructed Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), to cease using the federal and state public health insurance program for these procedures.
During a press briefing at the White House, Dr. Mehmet Oz emphasized the new directive, stating, “We are not going to pay for our innocent children to undergo these surgeries and practices, which result in irreversible harm to their young bodies.”
The announcement follows the CMS’s plan to implement a rule ending the use of federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for gender-affirming care for minors. This includes puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgical procedures, which carry risks like infertility, impaired sexual function, and other lasting physiological effects.
Oz added, “Children deserve protection, not experimental interventions that pose serious risks. By cutting off federal funds for these procedures, we’re adhering to scientific evidence, saving taxpayer money, and, most importantly, protecting children from irreversible harm.” The rule is planned to take effect on October 13 and will not affect coverage for mental health services.
This decision by CMS aligns with a Department of Health and Human Services review, which found significant evidence gaps and serious safety concerns regarding these interventions for children. The review deemed the evidence supporting these procedures as insufficient for federal taxpayer funding.
Already, 27 states have enacted restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors. Republican lawmakers have supported such measures, while many Democrats view them as attacks on transgender rights.
In his post, Trump noted that many hospitals have ceased offering gender-affirming care and suggested that more would follow. “Think about all the young and perhaps confused children who will be spared,” he wrote. He called on his followers to remember the Democratic Party’s stance on the issue as midterm elections approach.
This development remains ongoing. Further updates are anticipated.