Trump Admin Ends Federal Funding of Gender Care for Minors

The Trump administration has finalized a rule that ends the use of federal Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funds for gender surgeries and treatments for minors.

The Details: The rule, released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), prohibits Medicaid funding for "sex-rejecting procedures for children under 18" and blocks CHIP agencies from using funds for the same procedures for people under 19. Beneficiaries currently receiving hormone therapy can continue to claim benefits for six months after the rule comes into effect, which is expected on October 12. CMS projects that the move will save $235 million over a decade, with $138 million at the federal level and $97 million at the state level.

Key Quotes: CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said, "Children deserve our protection, not experimental interventions that pose serious risks and convey no proven benefits. By cutting off federal funds for these sex-rejecting procedures, we're following the science, saving taxpayer dollars, and, most importantly, protecting children from potentially irreversible harm so they can truly flourish." Several outlets quoted Ma'ayan Anafi of the National Women's Law Center for an opposition perspective. Anafi called the move "politically motivated" and said it's "not about following the science. It's about promoting this administration's anti-transgender agenda. This stigma is really the primary function of this rule."

For Context: The Hill (Center bias) noted a 2024 study that found less than one percent of minors received some sort of gender surgery before adulthood. The Hill added that the study also found more cisgender male minors received gender surgeries than transgender minors. It cited breast reductions as an example, noting that 97% of them were males seeking treatment for gynecomastia. CMS projects that the move will save $235 million over a decade, with $138 million at the federal level and $97 million at the state level. In January 2025, a week after taking office, President Trump signed an executive order, "Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation."

Related Storylines: On Thursday, the Department for Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report that alleged hospitals used false diagnostic codes to bill insurance companies for gender-related care for minors. Subsequently, Vice President JD Vance ordered the Justice Department to investigate healthcare providers for fraud related to gender treatments.

How The Media Covered It: The Federalist (Right) referred to gender surgeries for minors as "​​child genital mutilation surgeries" and framed them as carrying significant risk. The publication also only included quotes from the Trump administration and framed the rule as final, with "​​the force and effect of law." The Guardian (Left), on the other hand, prominently said that "legal challenges could delay or block [the rule] entirely." Outlets from the left were more likely to refer to gender surgeries and treatment as "gender-affirming care."

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