RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz announce sweeping measures to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth

The Trump administration announced Thursday a further crackdown on gender-affirming care for trans youth, which would make it almost impossible for hospitals to provide the care to those patients. It also issued a warning for makers of breast binders.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced two proposed measures, including:

• Barring any hospital from providing gender-affirming health care to trans youth from participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Such care would include puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgical operations (which are exceptionally rare for trans youth under 18).
• Prohibiting Medicaid funds from covering gender-affirming care for trans youth under the age of 18 and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funds from covering such care for trans minors under the age of 19.

The public will have 60 days to comment on these proposed rules starting tomorrow. If the rules are finalized, hospitals that did not comply with the orders would effectively be forced to shut down.

Also, the FDA will send warning letters to several manufacturers and retailers who make and sell breast binders. The agency said that marketing breast binders violates federal law.

The Human Rights Campaign's president Kelley Robinson condemned the proposals.

“The Trump administration is relentless in denying health care to this country, and especially the transgender community. Families deserve the freedom to go to the doctor and get the care that they need and to have agency over the health and well-being of their children,” Robinson in a press release. “But these proposed actions would put Donald Trump and RFK Jr. in those doctor’s offices, ripping health care decisions from the hands of families and putting it in the grips of the anti-LGBTQ+ fringe. Make no mistake: these rules aim to completely cut off medically necessary care from children no matter where in this country they live. It’s the Trump Administration dictating who gets their prescription filled and who has their next appointment canceled altogether."

Robinson also noted that the announcements were not law.

"Let's be clear, these rules are proposals, not binding law. Community members, healthcare providers, administrators, and our allies should be vocal in pushing back by sharing the ways these proposals would be devastating to their families and the healthcare community at large,” she said.

This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.