On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled an extensive array of proposed regulations aimed at ending what it terms “sex-rejecting procedures” on minors. This initiative stems from an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in January, emphasizing the need to protect children from “chemical and surgical mutilation.”
The newly proposed policies encompass significant changes, notably involving Medicare and Medicaid. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services aims to restrict hospitals from providing puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and various surgeries to patients under 18 as a prerequisite for participating in federal programs. Given that most hospitals in the U.S. participate in these programs, the impact could be substantial.
Additionally, the proposed rules would prohibit federal Medicaid funds from being allocated to surgical and medical interventions that alter a child’s sex for those under 18. This restriction would extend to the Children’s Health Insurance Program, targeting individuals under the age of 19. An HHS official noted that these actions are designed to ensure that federal resources do not facilitate gender transition procedures on children.
The announcement follows a peer-reviewed report published by HHS in November. This report outlined serious long-term risks associated with altering a child’s biological sex, emphasizing that such procedures often lack adequate monitoring. The findings, emerging from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, are part of a broader reassessment of medical practices concerning children facing gender dysphoria.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. further asserted that these procedures do not align with accepted professional medical standards, indicating that practitioners who engage in such practices may be out of compliance. The Food and Drug Administration also contributed to this regulatory shift by issuing warning letters to manufacturers marketing breast binders to children.
In a major move to redefine the legal status of gender dysphoria under federal law, HHS proposed a revision to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This revision seeks to clarify that the definitions of “disability” will not include gender dysphoria unless it results from a physical impairment. This shift signals a departure from the previous administration’s stance that recognized gender dysphoria as a disability.
The actions by HHS are predicted to provoke resistance from progressive Democrats, who have staunchly supported “gender-affirming care” for minors. As the conversation around transgender issues has intensified in recent years, it has evolved into a contentious political topic, with many advocating for the rights and mental health of transgender youth. Proponents argue that denying such medical interventions can lead to detrimental psychological outcomes, including increased rates of depression and anxiety.
President Trump has vocalized his opposition to gender transition procedures for minors, labeling them as forms of abuse. His administration, along with initiatives like the Make America Healthy Commission, has asserted a commitment to acknowledging only two biological sexes. This perspective was reinforced by an executive order aimed at dismantling what is viewed as “radical and wasteful” diversity programs within the government.
As these new regulatory measures are set in motion, the debate over gender transition protocols for minors is likely to intensify, with advocates on both sides preparing for a significant confrontation over the future of healthcare and children’s rights in America.
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