If allowed to take effect, the sweeping new rules would put the desires of politicians above the expertise of physicians, families, parents, and the medical community at large by stripping funding to hospitals that provide evidence-based, best practice care to transgender youth. 

Washington D.C. – In a press conference on Thursday, December 18, the Trump Administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced proposed rules that would bar hospitals receiving Medicaid and Medicare funding from providing transgender healthcare to youth — effectively banning essential life-saving care for transgender young people, even in states where such care remains legal. These proposals are not binding law and must undergo a lengthy regulatory process, including a 60-day public comment period, before going into effect. 

HHS’s proposed rules come one day after the House of Representatives passed a package of healthcare bills that include legislation criminalizing transgender healthcare for minors. The bills have to pass the Senate before becoming law. 

“Trans youth, like all youth and families across the country, deserve the basic freedom to thrive,” says Darra Gordon, CEO of Family Equality. “As parents, that’s all we want: To see our children safe, healthy, and happy with access to the evidence-based, widely supported care they need to survive. If enacted, today’s heartbreaking headlines will put the lives of thousands of transgender and nonbinary youth at risk. While the government fails in its duty to protect vulnerable young people — we will not. Family Equality, alongside movement partners, will continue to fight to ensure that all children have the freedom to be themselves and all families have the basic right to make informed medical decisions without being bullied or blocked by the whims of the federal government.” 

For decades, every major medical association — including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics — has recognized medical care as the only safe and effective treatment for gender dysphoria. In fact, research shows that access to this care is associated with significantly lower rates of depression and suicide risk among the transgender and nonbinary young people who receive it. 

“While it’s devastating to close out an already challenging year with this onslaught of attacks against our youth, we must not concede too quickly,” notes Luce Remy, Vice President of Public Policy. “These proposals are not binding, and these laws have not passed. Health care providers can continue to provide essential, life-saving care to their patients, just as we will continue to fight back against these policies, disseminate resources to our families, and shore up protections at every level of the government to keep our youth safe. Join us in this fight when the comment period opens so we can show the federal government just how valued and loved our nation’s trans youth are.” 

Family Equality encourages parents, providers, and allies to submit comments sharing the impact that rules like this would have on their families and communities during the customary 60-day comment period. 

Sign up for email alerts to receive more information on how to take action. 

Family Equality is the only national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the freedoms of all LGBTQ+ families through bold advocacy, transformative education, and powerful community building.

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