On December 18, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced plans to block federal funding for transition‑related medical care for minors. Hospitals receiving federal support would be barred from offering puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or surgeries to those under 18, and Medicaid coverage would also be restricted. The Food and Drug Administration said it will issue warning letters to companies marketing breast binders for minors, while the Office for Civil Rights proposed clarifying that gender dysphoria not tied to physical impairments would not qualify as a disability under federal law.

The announcement followed earlier executive orders from President Donald Trump declaring sex unchangeable and prohibiting federal funding for hospitals that provide such care. It also coincided with House legislation seeking criminal penalties for doctors who treat minors and efforts to block Medicaid coverage. These measures build on restrictions already enacted in 27 states.

Advocacy groups and medical experts have criticized the policies as harmful and unsupported by evidence, while families affected have reported relocating to access care. Civil rights groups are preparing legal challenges, and experts say the outcome could set precedent for how far the federal government can go in regulating access to gender‑affirming care for minors.

Sources: AP News, New York Post, NBC News