{"id":5498,"date":"2026-07-14T02:06:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T21:06:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=5498"},"modified":"2026-07-14T02:06:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T21:06:13","slug":"trumps-hhs-backs-off-most-radical-effort-to-stop-healthcare-for-trans-youth-npr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=5498","title":{"rendered":"Trump&#8217;s HHS backs off most radical effort to stop healthcare for trans youth : NPR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-133365\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 3100;&#10;        --source-height: 2067;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x2067+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Several people carry a large banner that says &quot;Hands off trans healthcare&quot; as they walk down a city street. Another person has a small sign that says the same thing.  \" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Protestors rally for healthcare for transgender people at a march in June 2025 in Manhattan. NPR has learned the Trump administration shelved a plan to cut off all Medicare and Medicaid funding to any hospital that provided gender-affirming care to minors.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Erik McGregor\/LightRocket via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Erik McGregor\/LightRocket via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong><em>For new discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines,<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/podcasts\/510351\/short-wave\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em> <u>follow NPR&#8217;s Short Wave podcast<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em><u>\u00a0<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration is abandoning its most aggressive attempt to end gender-affirming care for youth nationally, according to an official document obtained by NPR.<\/p>\n<p>The document shows that the Department of Health and Human Services will not be finalizing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2025\/12\/19\/2025-23465\/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-hospital-condition-of-participation-prohibiting-sex-rejecting\" target=\"_blank\">a proposed rule<\/a> that would have blocked all Medicaid and Medicare funding for hospitals that provide pediatric gender-affirming care. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap backstage\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5888586-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5649891\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/shots-health-news\/2025\/12\/19\/nx-s1-5649891\/transgender-pediatrician-trump-rfk-jr-ban\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/sections\\\/shots-health-news\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/19\\\/nx-s1-5649891\\\/transgender-pediatrician-trump-rfk-jr-ban&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1728x1728+294+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F95%2F78fbc5a7406d9b2f6fe26114734c%2Fimg-6697.JPG\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1728x1728+294+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F95%2F78fbc5a7406d9b2f6fe26114734c%2Fimg-6697.JPG\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1728x1728+294+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F95%2F78fbc5a7406d9b2f6fe26114734c%2Fimg-6697.JPG\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1728x1728+294+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F95%2F78fbc5a7406d9b2f6fe26114734c%2Fimg-6697.JPG\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1728x1728+294+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F95%2F78fbc5a7406d9b2f6fe26114734c%2Fimg-6697.JPG\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1728x1728+294+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F95%2F78fbc5a7406d9b2f6fe26114734c%2Fimg-6697.JPG\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1728x1728+294+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F95%2F78fbc5a7406d9b2f6fe26114734c%2Fimg-6697.JPG\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1728x1728+294+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F95%2F78fbc5a7406d9b2f6fe26114734c%2Fimg-6697.JPG\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"A display at the Gender Health Program of Children's Minnesota hospital says &quot;Pronoun Galaxy&quot; and it has hundreds of stars representing different patients.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5888586-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Not a &#8220;retreat&#8221; from anti-trans efforts<\/h3>\n<p>The fact that the Trump administration is backing off from this action is &#8220;a victory for people who are defending the rights and interests of trans people,&#8221; says <a href=\"https:\/\/michigan.law.umich.edu\/faculty-and-scholarship\/our-faculty\/samuel-r-bagenstos\" target=\"_blank\">Sam Bagenstos<\/a>, a professor at Michigan Law who served as general counsel at HHS under the Biden administration. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t think it indicates a more general retreat from the aggressive posture of the Trump administration.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Bagenstos notes that this type of leverage \u2014 a &#8220;conditions of participation&#8221; rule for the Medicare and Medicaid program \u2014 has historically been used by HHS to compel states and hospitals to meet basic health and safety standards. Things like &#8220;making sure that you have stockpiles of certain kinds of equipment, making sure that you have certain kinds of emergency protocols, making sure that you have certain staffing ratios,&#8221; he explains.<\/p>\n<p>The proposed rule was unprecedented, Bagenstos says, because it instead would have prohibited certain kinds of treatments for a certain population. He says it seemed unlawful in a variety of ways. For one, &#8220;it violates the Medicare Act, which says that Medicare and Medicaid can&#8217;t be used to control the practice of medicine within the state \u2014 states get to regulate the practice of medicine,&#8221; Bagenstos says.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-secondary-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap secondary\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<aside id=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" class=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" aria-label=\"recommended stories\"\/>\n<!-- END ID=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Medical groups opposed the change<\/h3>\n<p>Normally, HHS would propose a rule, accept public comment for 60 days, and then finalize the rule so that it could take effect. In this case, after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/shots-health-news\/2025\/12\/18\/nx-s1-5647789\/transgender-gender-affirming-care-rfk-jr-dr-oz-trump\" target=\"_blank\">proposing the rule<\/a> in December and receiving more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.regulations.gov\/document\/CMS-2025-1822-0001\/comment\" target=\"_blank\">30,000 comments<\/a>, the administration is abandoning the rule. At least in the next year, it will not be finalized and will not take effect.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.regulations.gov\/comment\/CMS-2025-1822-5906\" target=\"_blank\">American Medical Association<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.regulations.gov\/comment\/CMS-2025-1822-6388\" target=\"_blank\">Children&#8217;s Hospital Association<\/a> both submitted comments urging the agency to rescind or withdraw the proposed rule. Major U.S. medical groups say that puberty blockers and sex hormones are safe and can be effective for transgender young people.<\/p>\n<p>Even so, gender-affirming care for youth is banned in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/lgbtq\/gender-affirming-care-policy-tracker\/\" target=\"_blank\">27 states<\/a> after a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/shots-health-news\/2024\/07\/03\/nx-s1-4986385\/trans-kids-health-bans-gender-affirming-care\" target=\"_blank\">flurry of laws<\/a> passed over the last several years. In the remaining 23 states, many hospital clinics that offer gender-affirming care have continued to operate, while others have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/04\/17\/nx-s1-5780011\/blue-state-hospitals-drop-transgender-affirming-care-minors\" target=\"_blank\">shuttered in the past year<\/a> citing pressure from the Trump administration.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5888586-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-4986385\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/shots-health-news\/2024\/07\/03\/nx-s1-4986385\/trans-kids-health-bans-gender-affirming-care\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/sections\\\/shots-health-news\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/03\\\/nx-s1-4986385\\\/trans-kids-health-bans-gender-affirming-care&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/900x900+350+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F19%2Fb7%2F2357efc843c6a1a325d3731a59ad%2Fyouth-gender-care-bans-promo.png\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/900x900+350+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F19%2Fb7%2F2357efc843c6a1a325d3731a59ad%2Fyouth-gender-care-bans-promo.png\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/900x900+350+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F19%2Fb7%2F2357efc843c6a1a325d3731a59ad%2Fyouth-gender-care-bans-promo.png\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/900x900+350+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F19%2Fb7%2F2357efc843c6a1a325d3731a59ad%2Fyouth-gender-care-bans-promo.png\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/900x900+350+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F19%2Fb7%2F2357efc843c6a1a325d3731a59ad%2Fyouth-gender-care-bans-promo.png\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/900x900+350+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F19%2Fb7%2F2357efc843c6a1a325d3731a59ad%2Fyouth-gender-care-bans-promo.png\" data-format=\"png\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/png\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/900x900+350+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F19%2Fb7%2F2357efc843c6a1a325d3731a59ad%2Fyouth-gender-care-bans-promo.png\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/900x900+350+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F19%2Fb7%2F2357efc843c6a1a325d3731a59ad%2Fyouth-gender-care-bans-promo.png\" data-format=\"png\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Area chart showing the number of states with laws that limit youth access to gender-affirming care. The number increases dramatically in 2023 \u2014 from three states to 22 states \u2014 and ends with 25 states in June of 2024.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5888586-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>That pressure has come in the form of this proposed rule, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2025\/12\/19\/2025-23464\/medicaid-program-prohibition-on-federal-medicaid-and-childrens-health-insurance-program-funding-for\" target=\"_blank\">another rule<\/a> that would bar federal Medicaid reimbursement for transgender pediatric patients, and a <a href=\"https:\/\/clearinghouse-umich-production.s3.amazonaws.com\/media\/resource\/declaration-pediatric-sex-rejecting-procedures.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">declaration<\/a> from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that aimed to redefine the standard of care. (Interestingly, the press release issued when those actions were unveiled in December is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/press-room\/hhs-acts-bar-hospitals-performing-sex-rejecting-procedures-children.html\" target=\"_blank\">now missing<\/a> from the HHS website, as is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/declaration-pediatric-sex-rejecting-procedures.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Kennedy declaration document<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p>The Medicaid rule is currently in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reginfo.gov\/public\/do\/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202510&amp;RIN=0938-AV73\" target=\"_blank\">final stage of review<\/a> and appears to be on track to take effect in the coming weeks. A coalition of Democratic-led states <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/12\/24\/g-s1-103603\/19-states-sue-hhs-over-youth-gender-affirming-care\" target=\"_blank\">sued<\/a> over the so-called Kennedy declaration and <a href=\"https:\/\/litigationtracker.law.georgetown.edu\/litigation\/state-of-oregon-et-al-v-kennedy-et-al\/\" target=\"_blank\">succeeded in blocking<\/a> it in federal court in Oregon. The Trump administration has not appealed that decision so far.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-133377\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 3600;&#10;        --source-height: 2400;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fb7%2F07f9a11b49cc8b6a1d5e087d59be%2Fgettyimages-1243366560.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Protesters hold sigs that say, &quot;Children cannot consent to puberty blockers&quot; and &quot;Gender ideology does not belong in schools.&quot;\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Protesters who are against gender-affirming care for young people gathered outside Boston Children&#8217;s Hospital in Sept. 2022.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Carlin Stiehl for The Boston Globe\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Carlin Stiehl for The Boston Globe\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>At the same time, the Department of Justice has issued administrative and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/12\/nx-s1-5855728\/transgender-youth-healthcare-trump-subpoena\" target=\"_blank\">criminal subpoenas<\/a> to hospitals seeking full personal medical files for transgender youth and employment files for their medical providers, although many of those attempts have been blocked in court so far. The Trump administration has also reached settlements with hospitals in Texas and Ohio that involved establishing &#8220;detransition&#8221; clinics.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-third-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap third\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>And last month, when the Supreme Court allowed states to bar young transgender girls from sports, the White House issued a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/releases\/2026\/06\/supreme-court-bolsters-president-trumps-push-to-eliminate-transgender-insanity\/\" target=\"_blank\">press release<\/a> saying that the decision &#8220;Bolsters President Trump&#8217;s Push to Eliminate Transgender Insanity.&#8221; The release listed actions targeting transgender people across the federal government, from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/11\/06\/nx-s1-5585103\/supreme-court-passports-gender\" target=\"_blank\">passport markers<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/02\/16\/nx-s1-5716206\/transgender-troops-speak-up-as-theyre-forced-out\" target=\"_blank\">military service<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/shots-health-news\/2025\/04\/10\/nx-s1-5355126\/trump-nih-trans-regret-detransition-research\" target=\"_blank\">research funding<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Will hospitals that ended care for trans youth restart it?<\/h3>\n<p>While the Trump administration does not appear to be backing down from anti-transgender actions broadly, its decision not to finalize its most aggressive healthcare rule is significant, says <a href=\"https:\/\/oneill.law.georgetown.edu\/experts\/katie-keith\/\" target=\"_blank\">Katie Keith<\/a>, director of the Health Policy and the Law Initiative at Georgetown University who also worked in the Biden administration. Those other efforts are not nearly as durable as a finalized rule that takes effect, she notes.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5888586-102\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5836513\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/30\/nx-s1-5836513\/supreme-court-transgender-athletes\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/30\\\/nx-s1-5836513\\\/supreme-court-transgender-athletes&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3711x3711+928+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2Fe0%2F514e6830464aa771266f608c1039%2Fgettyimages-2157829281-1.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3711x3711+928+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2Fe0%2F514e6830464aa771266f608c1039%2Fgettyimages-2157829281-1.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3711x3711+928+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2Fe0%2F514e6830464aa771266f608c1039%2Fgettyimages-2157829281-1.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3711x3711+928+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2Fe0%2F514e6830464aa771266f608c1039%2Fgettyimages-2157829281-1.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3711x3711+928+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2Fe0%2F514e6830464aa771266f608c1039%2Fgettyimages-2157829281-1.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3711x3711+928+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2Fe0%2F514e6830464aa771266f608c1039%2Fgettyimages-2157829281-1.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3711x3711+928+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2Fe0%2F514e6830464aa771266f608c1039%2Fgettyimages-2157829281-1.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3711x3711+928+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2Fe0%2F514e6830464aa771266f608c1039%2Fgettyimages-2157829281-1.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"The Supreme Court\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5888586-102\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>The decision of the Trump administration not to finalize this rule &#8220;should give hospitals more confidence to either resume or continue offering the care,&#8221; she says. Because the rule was never in effect, &#8220;I would argue that they should have been doing this all along anyway.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lgbtmap.medium.com\/maps-investment-in-new-talent-d150e11ffadb\" target=\"_blank\">Kellan Baker<\/a> agrees. He&#8217;s a senior adviser for health policy at the Movement Advancement Project think tank, which focuses on LGBTQ issues. &#8220;This administration may have checked itself in one of the most extreme expressions of its agenda and I think people should take solace in that,&#8221; he says. &#8220;But at the same time, this administration is continuing to show that its ultimate goal is eliminating health care for trans people and that it is apparently prepared to use almost any means necessary to do so.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Medicare and Medicaid rule could theoretically be revived at some point, since it has not been formally withdrawn. An entry in the Trump administration&#8217;s recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reginfo.gov\/public\/do\/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202510&amp;RIN=0938-AV87\" target=\"_blank\">unified agenda<\/a> sets a final action date for the proposed rule as December 2028, just before President Trump leaves office.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Protestors rally for healthcare for transgender people at a march in June 2025 in Manhattan. NPR has learned the Trump administration shelved a plan to cut off all Medicare and Medicaid funding to any hospital that provided gender-affirming care to minors. Erik McGregor\/LightRocket via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Erik McGregor\/LightRocket via Getty Images&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5499,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3100x1744+0+270\/resize\/1400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F5f%2Fbe1e801d48ecb18de0f3a4b824d2%2Fgettyimages-2222113361.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5498","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5498","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5498"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5498\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5498"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5498"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5498"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}