Trump Ends Medicaid Funding for Gender Reassignment Surgeries for Minors

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced that his administration will halt funding for gender reassignment surgeries for minors through Medicaid.

In a post on Truth Social, he instructed Dr. Mehmet Oz, the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to cease using the federal health insurance program for these procedures.

Trump asserted, “We will not pay to subject innocent children to such barbaric surgeries and practices, resulting in unthinkable and irreversible harm to their young bodies.”

This decision comes after CMS revealed plans to implement new rules aimed at restricting federal Medicaid access to gender-affirming care for children and adolescents, which includes not only surgeries but also puberty blockers and hormones. These interventions are said to pose risks such as infertility and other permanent physical effects.

Dr. Oz expressed, “Children deserve our protection, not experimental interventions that pose serious risks and have no proven benefits.” He emphasized that reducing funding would follow the science, save taxpayers money, and ultimately protect children.

The new rule is expected to take effect on October 13 but will not change coverage for mental health services.

This policy shift is informed by a review conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services, which found significant gaps in evidence and documented safety concerns regarding these interventions, concluding that they do not justify taxpayer funding.

Interestingly, 27 states have already imposed restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors, with Republican lawmakers pushing to limit such procedures. However, many Democrats view these restrictions as an attack on transgender rights.

In his post, Trump noted that various hospitals are discontinuing gender-affirming care and predicted that more will likely follow suit. He urged his supporters to consider the impact on young children and criticized Democrats for their stance on this issue.

As the midterm elections approach, Trump encouraged his supporters to remember the Democratic position on this controversial topic.

This story is breaking, and updates will follow.