Trump Administration Plans Nationwide Ban on Medicaid Funding for Transgender Youth Care

The Trump administration has proposed new federal rules aiming to prohibit Medicaid and Medicare funding for gender-affirming care (GAC) for transgender youth, which could effectively block access to such care nationwide if implemented. These proposals would ban Medicaid reimbursement for gender-affirming treatments for those under 18 and restrict funding to hospitals that provide such care, impacting the vast majority of healthcare organizations reliant on federal funding. The rules, expected to be published publicly in November followed by a comment period, represent a significant escalation in efforts to restrict transgender youth healthcare, drawing widespread criticism from experts and advocacy groups who warn of severe consequences for trans youth and potential legal challenges. Critics argue this could force providers to halt or limit care, pushing many transgender youths to unsafe alternatives, with opponents including medical professionals and civil rights organizations emphasizing the safety and benefits of gender-affirming care. Additionally, the administration is moving to penalize nonprofits offering such care by excluding them from Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs, further pressuring institutions to cease providing gender-affirming treatments. Legal experts anticipate these measures will face substantial judicial scrutiny, but the administration's actions mark a coordinated effort to curtail transgender health services across the U.S.