US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled sweeping proposals Thursday to significantly curtail access to gender-affirming care for children, a move that would reshape federal health program participation and funding. The new regulations aim to prevent hospitals providing such treatments from participating in Medicare and Medicaid, while simultaneously blocking federal Medicaid and children’s health programs from covering related costs. This initiative marks a substantial intervention into the provision of transgender healthcare for minors across the nation.

Under the proposed rules, healthcare facilities that offer “sex-rejecting procedures” to minors would face exclusion from the vital Medicare program, which serves individuals aged 65 and older or those with disabilities. Similarly, state and federal Medicaid programs, alongside the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), would be barred from financially supporting any gender-affirming interventions for young people. These measures directly target the financial infrastructure that supports a significant portion of healthcare services in the United States.

Secretary Kennedy fiercely defended the proposals, stating that “so-called gender-affirming care has inflicted lasting physical and psychological damage on vulnerable young people.” He asserted, “This is not medicine, it is malpractice,” unequivocally condemning current practices. Kennedy also confirmed the signing of a declaration which formally asserts that “sex-rejecting procedures are neither safe nor effective treatment for children with gender dysphoria.”

Further escalating the federal government’s stance, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will prohibit Medicare from funding these specific “sex-rejecting procedures.” Concurrently, Kennedy announced plans to remove gender dysphoria from its classification as a disability status. This redefinition could have profound implications for individuals currently relying on disability protections or services related to their gender identity.

The potential reach of these proposed restrictions is extensive, given the broad participation in federal health programs. Nearly all U.S. hospitals are integral to the Medicare system, facilitating care for millions of seniors and individuals with disabilities. Moreover, federal and state-based Medicaid and CHIP programs collectively provide health coverage for more than half of all children across the United States, making these new rules potentially impactful for a vast demographic.

Recent health data underscores the prevalence of gender dysphoria among young people. An analysis for Reuters by Komodo Health revealed that over 121,000 children aged 6 to 17 received a diagnosis of gender dysphoria between 2017 and 2021. Of this group, approximately 17,683 began puberty blockers or hormone therapy during the same period, though experts suggest both figures likely represent undercounts due to undiagnosed cases or treatments sought outside insured services.

These proposed regulations align with broader efforts by the Trump administration to roll back policies established by previous Democratic administrations concerning transgender rights. Kennedy’s announcement follows an earlier executive order from President Donald Trump, which aimed to reverse existing directives. The move signals a consistent federal approach under the current administration to redefine the government’s role in gender-related healthcare and identity issues.

The Trump administration has consistently pursued policies aimed at curbing what it terms the promotion of “gender ideology.” Past initiatives include attempts to ban transgender individuals from military service, prevent them from designating their gender identities on passports, and prohibit federal workers from using bathrooms aligning with their gender. These actions reflect a sustained effort to challenge and redefine norms surrounding sex and gender.

“Gender ideology” is a term frequently employed by conservative groups to describe views promoting non-traditional understandings of sex and gender, often perceived as an anti-LGBTQ trope and dehumanizing by rights activists. Transgender rights have emerged as a deeply contentious political issue in recent years, with numerous Republican candidates campaigning on platforms to reverse transgender protection laws. More than two dozen Republican-led states have already enacted legislation banning or severely restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

The proposals from Secretary Kennedy represent a significant federal intervention into a highly sensitive and politically charged area of healthcare. As the debate over gender-affirming care for minors intensifies, these new rules are poised to spark widespread discussion and potential legal challenges, fundamentally altering the landscape for transgender youth and their families across the United States.

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Keywords: RFK Jr., Gender-affirming care, Children's health, Medicare and Medicaid restrictions, Gender dysphoria, Transgender youth healthcare, Federal health policy, Trump administration gender ideology