Hospitals in Colorado, Virginia, and Washington D.C. announced on Thursday that they are halting gender-affirming treatments for minors as they review President Donald Trump’s recent executive order. This order is intended to reduce federal funding for institutions that provide such care.
Denver Health in Colorado confirmed that it has stopped performing gender-affirming surgeries for individuals under the age of 19. They are currently assessing whether to continue offering other forms of gender-affirming care, such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers.
In Virginia, both VCU Health and Children’s Hospital of Richmond stated that they have paused gender-affirming medications and surgeries for patients younger than 19. Similarly, Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. announced that it is temporarily halting the prescription of puberty blockers and hormone therapy in light of the new directives.
Trump’s executive order, signed earlier this week, aims to overturn Biden administration policies that are designed to protect transgender individuals and their access to care. It mandates that federal agencies take actions to prevent “the chemical and surgical mutilation of children” in hospitals that receive federal research and education grants.
While many hospitals are reevaluating their procedures, Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago mentioned that they are reviewing how the order may affect their clinical services. Hospital officials stated their commitment to advocating for necessary medical care rooted in science.
The language in Trump’s order has drawn criticism, particularly its use of terms like “mutilation” and “sterilizing,” which some believe mischaracterizes gender-affirming care. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) responded, saying that restricting access to medical care for transgender youth can be harmful to both young patients and their families.
Research indicates that gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth is not widely practiced. A study showed that fewer than 1 in 1,000 adolescents with commercial insurance received puberty blockers or hormones over a five-year period.
Denver Health expressed concern that the new restrictions could impact the mental health of their transgender patients, emphasizing their commitment to providing core health services to this vulnerable group. They remain focused on ensuring the health and safety of gender-diverse patients under 19.
This development highlights ongoing debates surrounding the care of transgender youth and the balance between medical intervention and parental consent.
