Trump Administration Halts Medicaid Funding for Gender Transition Surgeries for Minors

The Trump administration announced a decision to stop funding gender transition surgeries for minors through Medicaid. President Donald Trump shared this update on Tuesday, emphasizing a significant policy change.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that he directed Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), to discontinue using Medicaid funds for these procedures. CMS serves as a joint federal and state public health insurance program.

Trump criticized the procedures, describing them as harmful and irreversible for young bodies. He expressed that federal funds should no longer support what he termed “barbaric surgeries.”

The CMS had announced plans to implement a rule ceasing the use of federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for gender-affirming care for minors. This includes puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgical operations, all cited for potential irreversible effects such as infertility and altered development.

Dr. Oz commented that the policy change aligns with scientific understanding, protects children, and saves taxpayer dollars. “By stopping funds for these procedures, we ensure children avoid harmful interventions,” he stated.

The proposed rule, set for enforcement on October 13, will not affect mental health service coverage.

This policy change follows an analysis by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which reviewed research and flagged safety concerns and gaps in evidence regarding such treatments for minors. The review concluded that federal funding for these interventions lacked sufficient support.

Currently, 27 states have laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors, as reported by the health policy group KKF. While Republican lawmakers support these restrictions, many Democrats argue that they threaten transgender people’s rights.

In his statement, Trump highlighted that numerous hospitals have stopped offering gender-affirming care, anticipating more to do the same. He called attention to what he perceived as the Democratic Party’s stance ahead of the upcoming November midterm elections.

This announcement marks another development in national policy on healthcare for transgender youth. More updates are expected as the situation evolves.