Following President Donald Trump’s Jan. 23 executive order stripping hospitals of federal funding if they perform sex-change procedures on minors, a growing number of medical institutions have announced they will halt such practices. The directive also applies to institutions receiving research and education grants and defines the “chemical and surgical mutilation of children” as the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries that remove healthy body parts and sex organs.
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As reported by The Christian Post, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report earlier this year warning of the “risk of significant harms including infertility/sterility, sexual dysfunction, impaired bone density accrual, adverse cognitive impacts, cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders, psychiatric disorders, surgical complications, and regret.”
Even before new rules were fully implemented, hospitals and insurers across the country began taking steps to comply.
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Here are the hospitals and health insurers that have paused some or all types of sex-change procedures for minors:
- The University of Pennsylvania
The Daily Pennsylvanian reported on May 29 that the Philadelphia-based university’s college of medicine would no longer perform these procedures. Penn Medicine Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrick Brennan called it a “difficult decision that we know impacts patients and families who place their trust in our care teams.” - Children’s National Hospital (Washington, D.C.)
In a statement posted online, the hospital announced that “in light of escalating legal and regulatory risks to Children’s National, our providers, and the families we serve, we will be discontinuing the prescription of gender-affirming medications.” The change will officially take effect on Aug. 30, after a previous pause was announced in January. - Kaiser Permanente
A spokesperson for Kaiser Permanente told KTXL that effective Aug. 29, the provider “paused sex-change surgeries for trans-identified youth younger than 19” following internal and external consultations. However, the insurer will continue prescribing puberty blockers and hormones. “We recognize that this is an extremely challenging and stressful time for our patients … and will work closely with each patient to support their care journey,” the spokesperson added. - University of Chicago Medicine
In a July 18 statement, the hospital explained it would stop prescribing puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and performing surgeries on minors due to “emerging federal actions which would place at risk our ability to care for all Medicare or Medicaid patients.” As the largest Medicaid provider in Illinois, the institution said this move was “necessary to ensure UChicago Medicine can continue serving our broader community and delivering on our mission.” - Children’s Hospital of Richmond (Virginia Commonwealth University)
On July 29, the hospital announced it would “cease providing Gender-Affirming Care” for youth under 19 after a “thoughtful and thorough assessment that revealed no other viable options.” The change will take effect at the end of October. “As we wind down these services over the next 90 days, our care teams will provide support and assist with safe transfer of care for existing patients, considering each youth’s needs with compassion and clinical judgment,” the hospital stated.
The wave of policy changes highlights the sweeping impact of Trump’s executive order on the medical field and the ongoing national debate over the treatment of minors with gender dysphoria. While supporters of the order see it as a necessary protection for children from irreversible harm, critics argue it restricts access to care.
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With more hospitals expected to follow suit, the future of such procedures in the United States remains uncertain as legal, medical and spiritual battles continue to unfold.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
