The Trump administration has decided to stop using Medicaid to fund gender transition surgeries for minors. President Donald Trump announced this change on Tuesday.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump instructed Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), to end the practice of using the joint federal and state health insurance program for such procedures.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Medicare and Medicaid Administrator, was present at a press briefing at the White House to discuss this policy change. Addressing concerns, Trump stated, “We will not fund surgeries and practices that can cause irreversible harm to young bodies.” This decision came after CMS announced it would enforce a rule to stop federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for gender-affirming care for minors.
The prohibited procedures include puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries. These interventions “can lead to irreversible consequences such as infertility, impaired sexual function, reduced bone density, altered brain development, and other lasting effects,” according to Trump.
Dr. Oz supported the decision, stating, “Children need protection from experimental interventions that pose risks and have no proven benefits.” He emphasized the importance of “following science and saving taxpayer money” while safeguarding children from irreversible harm.
This rule is scheduled to go into effect on October 13. It will not impact coverage of mental health services.
This policy follows an evaluation by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of both national and international research. The review highlighted “significant evidence gaps and serious safety concerns,” along with insufficient evidence supporting these interventions for children.
So far, 27 states have already implemented restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors, based on data from the health policy group KKF. While Republican lawmakers have pushed for these restrictions, many Democrats argue that such measures are attacks on transgender rights.
In his social media post, Trump noted that numerous hospitals have already halted gender-affirming care, and indicated many others are likely to follow. He encouraged his followers to consider the Democratic Party’s stance on this matter in light of the upcoming November midterm elections.