The Trump administration has abandoned its proposed rule that would have withheld Medicare and Medicaid funding from hospitals providing pediatric gender-affirming care, marking a retreat from its most aggressive federal effort to restrict such care. Legal experts and medical organizations had strongly opposed the rule, arguing it overstepped federal authority, violated the Medicare Act, and lacked medical justification—especially since surgery is rare among minors and most care involves therapy or medications. While advocates call this a victory for transgender rights, scholars caution it does not signal broader policy shifts, as 27 states have already enacted bans on gender-affirming care for youth.
Original Article Source Link:
https://www.npr.org/2026/07/13/nx-s1-5888586/transgender-gender-affirming-care-medicare-medicaid-hhs