Trump Bans Gender Transition Procedures for Minors

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order prohibiting gender transition treatments for individuals under the age of 19, marking a major shift in federal policy on transgender healthcare.

The directive, issued Tuesday, states that the government will no longer support medical interventions such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or gender-affirming surgeries for minors. Trump justified the move by calling such treatments “irreversible and dangerous,” arguing that children should not undergo procedures that could alter their biological sex.

“This administration will not endorse or finance the transitioning of minors,” the order reads. “Federal funds will no longer be used for practices that compromise the well-being of young Americans.”

Under the new policy, gender-related medical treatments will be excluded from Medicaid, Medicare, and the military’s healthcare system, affecting millions of families nationwide. The order also outlines plans to work with Congress to introduce legislation that would allow minors and their parents to take legal action against healthcare providers who perform gender-affirming procedures.

Trump’s decision follows his inauguration speech, where he reaffirmed his belief in a strict binary definition of gender. Last week, he addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, emphasizing that gender surgeries would become “extremely rare” under his leadership.

This move aligns with existing policies in 24 Republican-led states that have already passed laws restricting gender-related healthcare for minors. The decision is expected to face strong opposition from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, medical professionals, and Democratic states, who argue that restricting access to gender-affirming care violates human rights and medical ethics.

With legal challenges on the horizon, the executive order is likely to spark one of the most heated debates of Trump’s presidency, as supporters hail it as a safeguard for children, while critics see it as an infringement on personal freedoms.