On January 28, President Donald Trump enacted an executive order prohibiting gender transition procedures for minors, encompassing both chemical treatments and surgical interventions. He stated that his administration would neither support nor finance such practices in the future.
In a post on Truth Social, the president expressed, “It is with great honor that I sign an Executive Order banning the chemical castration and medical mutilation of innocent children in the United States. Our Nation will no longer fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support so-called ‘gender affirming care,’ which has already ruined far too many precious lives.”
The president elaborated on the implications of the executive order, asserting, “My Order instructs Agencies to utilize all available resources to terminate Federal financial involvement in institutions that attempt to provide these barbaric medical procedures, which should never have been permitted!”
The order, titled “PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM CHEMICAL AND SURGICAL MUTILATION,” commenced with a statement highlighting the alarming trend of medical professionals performing irreversible procedures on impressionable children under the misguided belief that sex can be altered through such interventions. It emphasized that this dangerous practice would tarnish the Nation’s history and must be halted.
Furthermore, the executive order contended that the procedures permitted could lead to profound regret among children, stating, “Countless children come to regret their mutilation and begin to understand the tragic reality that they will never be able to conceive or breastfeed their own children.”
Additionally, it addressed the potential economic ramifications for these children, noting, “Moreover, the medical expenses for these vulnerable youths may escalate throughout their lives, as they often face lifelong medical complications.”
The recent order establishes a clear policy for the United States, stating, “It is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures.”
Subsequently, the order elaborated on the specific practices being terminated, defining “chemical and surgical mutilation” as the use of puberty blockers, including GnRH agonists and other interventions, to postpone the onset or progression of puberty in individuals who do not identify with their biological sex; the administration of sex hormones, such as androgen blockers, estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone, to modify an individual’s physical appearance to match an identity that differs from their biological sex; and surgical interventions aimed at altering an individual’s physical characteristics to align with a different identity or to modify or remove sexual organs to diminish or eliminate their natural biological functions. This term is sometimes referred to as ‘gender affirming care.’
Furthermore, the order outlined the government’s forthcoming actions, stating, “Within 90 days of the issuance of this order, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall publish a review of the existing literature on best practices for promoting the health of children who experience gender dysphoria, rapid-onset gender dysphoria, or other identity-related confusion.”
It also emphasized, “The Secretary of HHS, as appropriate and in accordance with applicable law, shall employ all available methods to enhance the quality of data to inform practices aimed at improving the health of minors experiencing gender dysphoria, rapid-onset gender dysphoria, or other identity-related confusion, or who seek chemical or surgical mutilation.”
Additionally, it stated, “The head of each executive department or agency that provides research or education grants shall…”
