Trump Administration to End Federal Funding for Gender-Affirming Care for Children

“Please remember this when you are casting your vote,” President Trump said, tying the move to the upcoming midterm elections.

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The rule blocks federal funding from going toward puberty blockers, gender-affirming hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgery. It provides an exemption for treatments related to intersex conditions or complications from prior procedures. Jacquelyn Martin/AP

The Trump administration announced a new rule that would prevent federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program dollars from funding gender-affirming care for children after Oct. 13.

The rule, announced Tuesday, is part of a wider White House push to restrict transgender or nonbinary children from receiving gender-affirming procedures — particularly surgery, which is already a rare option for youth — and to more strictly define gender.

The rule blocks federal funding from going toward puberty blockers, gender-affirming hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgery. It provides an exemption for treatments related to intersex conditions or complications from prior procedures.