President Donald Trump has signed an executive order halting the federal funding of gender-affirming care for children, a policy introduced during the Biden administration.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump declared the move as a step to stop what he described as the “mutilation” of children’s gender.
“We will no longer fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support so-called ‘gender affirming care,’” Trump wrote. He referred to the procedures as “barbaric” and claimed they had ruined too many lives. The order directs federal agencies to cut off financial support for institutions that provide these treatments, including what Trump referred to as “chemical castration” and “medical mutilation.”
Gender-affirming care was introduced to help transgender individuals, including minors, by offering counseling and support for those considering a gender transition. This care sometimes includes puberty blockers, which delay puberty to give minors more time to explore their gender identity before making decisions about further medical interventions, such as hormone therapy or surgery.
While the procedures were generally limited to adults, some minors have undergone gender-affirming treatments. Many medical organizations have endorsed such care and received federal funding to support it, but the new executive order aims to eliminate all federal backing for these procedures in the U.S.
Trump’s decision has sparked significant debate, with supporters arguing that it protects children from irreversible procedures, while opponents warn that it could harm transgender individuals by limiting access to necessary medical care.