Key facts
- The Trump administration finalized a rule to stop federal funding for gender-affirming care for transgender minors.
- The rule applies to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.
- Gender-affirming care includes puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries.
- The rule becomes effective in October.
- The administration cited concerns about weak evidence and irreversible harm.
- The policy prohibits federal funding for these treatments for minors.
The Trump administration has finalized a rule that will prevent federal funding from being used for gender-affirming care for transgender minors. This policy specifically targets programs like Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, which provide health coverage to low-income children. The rule, set to take effect in October, will exclude coverage for a range of treatments considered gender-affirming. These include puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgical interventions. The administration's stated rationale for this prohibition centers on concerns about the limited scientific evidence supporting these treatments and the potential for irreversible harm to minors. The finalization of this rule marks a significant policy shift regarding federal support for transgender youth healthcare.