PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order banning the federal funding and facilitation of puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and surgeries for minors.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
📍 Where & When: United States, Executive Order signed on January 28, 2025.
💬 Key Quote: A Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) alert emphasizes that providers must “follow the highest standards of care… especially as it comes to America’s children.”
⚠️ Impact: Federal grants supporting related treatments have been rescinded, saving taxpayers $477 million, and further actions are underway to ensure adherence to the order.
IN FULL:
President Donald J. Trump’s executive order banning the federal government from funding transgender surgeries or therapies for children has now been implemented on several fronts. A White House report released April 28 details what measures have already been implemented since the order was signed in January.
This directive, Executive Order 14187, calls for agencies to reverse policies based on the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s (WPATH) standards, which are criticized for lacking a scientific foundation. A notable element of these earlier policies was the absence of age restrictions for surgeries, influenced by health lobbyists.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is set to conduct an extensive review of existing literature regarding best health practices for children with gender dysphoria, assembling an expert team to ensure scientific accuracy.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) is tasked with promoting accountability across taxpayer-supported research to uphold data quality and transparency. This includes rectifying the nondisclosure of study outcomes that have been withheld due to political reasons.
With the order’s implementation, HHS has already terminated federal grants supporting medical treatments involving child gender modifications. This has reportedly saved taxpayers approximately $477 million, including substantial funding previously allocated to entities such as the Center for Innovative Public Health and Boston Children’s Hospital.
As part of enhancing medical safety, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a cautionary memo warning providers about the risks of these interventions. “It is of the utmost importance that all providers follow the highest standards of care and adhere closely to the foundational principles of medicine, especially as it comes to America’s children,” the memo states.
