Trump Executive Order Halts Gender-Affirming Surgeries for Minors Nationwide

Hospitals across the U.S., including major institutions in New York and Chicago, pause procedures for transgender youth following federal restrictions on gender-affirming care.

President Trump signed an executive order barring federal support for gender-affirming medical treatments for individuals under 19, including surgeries and puberty blockers.
The order directs federal agencies to enforce laws limiting such procedures and to withdraw reliance on guidance from organizations like WPATH, citing concerns about scientific integrity.
Hospitals such as NYU Langone in New York and Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago have paused transgender-related surgeries for minors while reviewing the order's implications.
Protests have emerged, with families and advocates voicing concerns over the impact on transgender youth, while critics of the treatments argue they are harmful and irreversible.
Legal challenges are anticipated as families and state officials, particularly in New York, argue the order conflicts with state laws protecting access to gender-affirming care.