Trump Administration Ends Federal Funding for Youth Gender Transition Treatments
The Trump administration has decided to cut federal funding for gender transition treatments for youth. This move comes as Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Chief of CMS, raises concerns about significant long-term health risks associated with these procedures. In a discussion with Ainsley Earhardt, Dr. Ira Savetsky, a board-certified plastic surgeon, praised the decision, pointing out the absence of enough clinical evidence supporting irreversible surgeries carried out on minors.
Notably, one of New York City’s largest hospitals, Mount Sinai, has announced that it will cease offering sex reassignment procedures to minors following this agreement with the Trump administration. Mount Sinai has previously provided services such as hormonal therapy and surgeries to many transgender patients—reportedly seeing 4,931 across a range of ages according to their 2025 annual report. However, they haven’t made the specific number of minors receiving these procedures public.
Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, “The Department of Justice is committed to holding accountable medical providers that violate federal law and endanger children through so-called gender-affirming care.” He added that the agreement aims to halt these practices at Mount Sinai and deliver meaningful support to those already affected.
The settlement includes a financial penalty and mandates that Mount Sinai allocate $2 million towards free medical care for individuals experiencing adverse effects from treatments received as children. This shift is part of a broader investigation by the Justice Department into hospitals that offer such procedures to minors.
Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate noted, “More hospitals like Mount Sinai are acknowledging the medical issues surrounding sex-reassignment procedures.” He expressed gratitude for resolutions that help protect children and ensure justice for those affected.
Under the Trump administration, limiting sex reassignment procedures for minors has been a significant priority.
Shortly after taking office, President Trump issued an executive order titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” aiming to defund federal support for gender reassignment procedures. This order also instructed the Justice Department to enforce laws around female genital mutilation and investigate potential drug safety breaches or parental rights violations.
The ongoing investigation by the Justice Department is looking into possible breaches of various health laws, including alleged fraudulent practices like using incorrect diagnosis codes to secure payments from federal health programs and private insurers.
Moreover, the executive order called for the rescinding or modification of agency policies based on guidelines from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). This group has been facing lawsuits from the Federal Trade Commission and several states over claims of making unsubstantiated assertions regarding the safety and necessity of pediatric medical transition services. The outcome of this case is still pending.
WPATH’s guidelines have been foundational to Mount Sinai’s protocols for transgender procedures, and Dr. Joshua Safer, who co-authored WPATH’s guidelines, serves as the Executive Director at Mount Sinai’s Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery.
The Justice Department has not disclosed specific details about the agreement with Mount Sinai but mentioned that the hospital has been cooperative and proactive throughout the investigation process.
Mount Sinai’s statement revealed that the settlement reflects its ongoing commitment to protecting patients’ confidential information and supporting their clinicians. This agreement follows similar settlements reached by the Justice Department with other major hospitals like Texas Children’s Hospital and Cleveland Clinic Foundation, all of which have agreed to halt youth transgender procedures recently.
