Senate Republicans Question Federal Funding for Gender Reassignment Services to Minors
Top Senate Republicans are looking into if taxpayer-funded health care providers are using federal aid to deliver gender reassignment services to minors and what responsibilities taxpayers might bear if these individuals decide to sue in the future.
In a letter accessed by Fox News Digital, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, has called on two Rhode Island health care providers that treat patients under 19 to clarify their actions. He has pressed the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to explain reports that community health centers might have provided puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or surgical referrals, amid concerns about accountability.
Cassidy’s inquiry broadens the examination of federally funded health care providers accused of giving puberty blockers and other related treatments to vulnerable minors. This comes just ahead of a Senate hearing intended to scrutinize child sex reassignment practices and the allegations surrounding federal funding for these services.
“Healthcare providers should prioritize the health of children rather than expose them to risky, ideologically-driven gender reassignment procedures,” Cassidy emphasized in a news release about the investigation. “These organizations must be held accountable to prevent further harm to children.”
Back in February, Mike Stewart, who serves as general counsel for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), initiated an inspector general investigation into several federally funded community health centers over claims of providing gender reassignment services to children. However, it remains unclear if the HHS Office of Inspector General has finished or published findings from this investigation. Cassidy’s letter is pushing HRSA for updates on any enforcement actions taken.
Documents from one community health center outline a process for providing gender-affirming care, such as hormone therapy, to patients under 18 as long as there’s parental consent at the beginning. Another organization publicly advertises transgender health services and runs separate health programs for LGBTQ youth aged 13 to 24.
Furthermore, Cassidy is expanding oversight to include two more federally funded health providers: Thundermist Health Center in Rhode Island and Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
The senator’s investigation is also focused on the federal liability structure which could complicate government defenses in case of medical malpractice claims.
In his correspondence with HRSA, Cassidy noted that some community health centers might be considered U.S. Public Health Service employees for liability purposes. Thus, the Department of Justice (DOJ) could end up defending lawsuits under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) if a claim arises.
Cassidy expressed concerns that this framework create issues of accountability, particularly as litigation related to detransitioning is rising. He referenced several cases where the DOJ has represented community health centers in disputes related to gender reassignment services.
His letter mentioned that community health centers receive significant taxpayer funding, noting that in fiscal year 2026 alone, they are expected to secure over $6.3 billion in federal funding. Cassidy cautioned that the existing funding and liability structure poses potential shortcomings in oversight, implying that affected patients might have to resort to suing the federal government instead of the providers directly responsible for their care.
Regarding Thundermist, Cassidy stated that it receives various federal subsidies, in addition to enhanced reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid. He pointed out that a substantial portion of Thundermist’s income for fiscal year 2024 would stem from HHS and HRSA.
Meanwhile, Cassidy highlighted a lawsuit from a former patient claiming medical malpractice against Thundermist, focusing on allegations of negligence and a lack of informed consent concerning their gender reassignment process.
In terms of Hasbro, Cassidy’s letter raised similar inquiries about its federal funding but directed attention toward assistance offered to children’s hospitals instead of community health centers.
Efforts to reach Thundermist and Hasbro for comments were unsuccessful before publication.
Cassidy’s upcoming HELP committee hearing is expected to spotlight what Republicans consider the risks associated with pediatric gender reassignment procedures. The hearing will also allow Cassidy to pressure federal agencies regarding their identification of providers that receive federal support for these services, alongside queries about existing federal liability protections in such cases.
Cassidy has posed various questions to HRSA, seeking answers by May 28 about the provision of gender transition-related services at community health centers, their impact on federal funding eligibility, and the extent of taxpayer dollars used for settling claims tied to these procedures.
Fox News Digital reached out to HHS to inquire about the current status of the inspector general’s investigation into community health centers for offering gender reassignment services to minors but did not receive a timely response.
