The administration of US President Donald Trump has moved to end federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program funding for gender-affirming medical care for minors, escalating its efforts to restrict such treatment.
Trump announced the policy on social media, saying he had directed Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Mehmet Oz to end federal funding for gender-transition surgeries and hormone treatments for minors.
“We are not going to pay for our innocent children to undergo these barbaric surgeries and practices,” Trump said, claiming the treatments could cause “unthinkable and irreversible harm to their young bodies.”
The final rule, announced by the administration this week, covers puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries for minors under Medicaid, while CHIP funding will also be restricted for beneficiaries under 19. The policy is scheduled to take effect on October 13, 2026.
The administration has defended the move on medical and financial grounds. Oz previously said Medicaid funds should not be used for gender-reassignment surgeries or hormone treatments involving minors, arguing that the procedures could cause permanent harm.
However, the policy has drawn opposition from medical organisations and LGBTQ+ advocates, who argue that decisions about treatment should be based on individual medical circumstances. Democratic state attorneys general have also challenged the policy in court.
The federal government will no longer reimburse states through Medicaid and CHIP for the specified treatments, although states can choose to continue coverage using their own funds. Children already receiving hormone therapy will receive a limited transition period under the new rules.
Trump also linked the decision to the November midterm elections, urging supporters to remember the issue when voting.
