U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning gender-affirming surgeries for individuals under 19 years old.
The White House states that the document asserts that more and more healthcare providers across the country are performing irreversible surgeries and sterilizations on children, influenced by claims that adults can change a child’s gender through medical interventions. According to Trump, this creates a dangerous trend that will become a disgrace for the country and needs to be immediately stopped.
According to the order, the U.S. will no longer fund, support, or promote gender-affirming procedures for children and will comply with laws prohibiting such interventions. The document specifies that a “child” is considered to be anyone under 19 years old. The order bans hormone blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries aimed at altering a child’s appearance to match a gender identity different from their biological sex.
Trump also demanded that government agencies review or cancel policies based on recommendations from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which he believes harms children through chemical and surgical interventions. The Department of Health and Human Services has been tasked with presenting a review of best practices in children’s health within 90 days.
The U.S. Department of Defense has been instructed to exclude procedures related to chemical and surgical interventions for minors from the TRICARE medical insurance program.
