U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday announced a major set of proposed regulations that would sharply restrict access to gender-affirming medical care for children across the United States.
Kennedy revealed the proposals during a press conference at the Department of Health and Human Services. The measures aim to block hospitals and providers from offering puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or related treatments to patients under 18 if they rely on federal funding.
Under the plan, hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to minors would lose access to Medicare and Medicaid programs. A second rule would prevent federal Medicaid dollars from paying for those procedures for children.
“This Is Not Medicine,” Kennedy Says
Kennedy said he signed a declaration stating that what he described as “sex-rejecting procedures” are neither safe nor effective treatments for children with gender dysphoria. He argued that doctors have a responsibility to protect minors and claimed that many medical institutions have failed to meet that obligation.
“This is not medicine,” Kennedy said. “It is malpractice.”
He asserted that gender-affirming treatments cause lasting physical and psychological harm to vulnerable young people. He also criticized what he called ideology-driven science and said the administration is shifting its focus back to child welfare.
FDA Actions and Policy Changes at HHS
As part of the initiative, the Food and Drug Administration sent warning letters to 12 manufacturers of breast binders. The agency accused the companies of illegally marketing the products to children for the treatment of gender dysphoria. Kennedy said regulators could seize products if manufacturers fail to comply.
HHS is also moving to remove gender dysphoria from the federal definition of a disability. That change could reduce legal protections and limit access to accommodations linked to disability status.
Proposed Rules Face Legal Hurdles
The regulations are not final. Federal agencies must complete a formal rule-making process that includes public comment periods and revisions. Legal challenges from states, hospitals, and advocacy groups are expected.
Even before the rules take effect, the announcement may have an immediate impact. Several hospitals have already paused or ended gender-affirming care for minors due to uncertainty surrounding federal policy.
A Broader Shift in Federal Health Policy
More than half of U.S. states already restrict or ban gender-affirming care for minors. The new federal proposals could affect access in nearly two dozen states where such care remains legal and receives partial Medicaid funding.
The move marks one of the most significant healthcare policy shifts under President Donald Trump’s administration. It signals a broader effort to reshape the federal government’s role in transgender healthcare.
As the rule-making process begins, the proposals are expected to intensify national debate. Court battles and political pushback are likely. The issue now moves to the center of the country’s ongoing discussion about medicine, government authority, and care for children.
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