CEC Condemns Trump Admin’s Proposed Rules to Limit Trans Youths’ Access to Medically-Necessary Care

WASHINGTON, DC — After the Trump Administration announced a series of new proposed rules aimed at restricting access to medically-necessary care for young transgender people, Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement:

“In just a few days, millions of Americans’ healthcare premiums will skyrocket because of the Republican Healthcare Crisis, but the Trump Administration’s most pressing priority isn’t to tackle the skyrocketing costs of healthcare—it’s proposing more rules that rip away the ability of parents to ensure their transgender children get the medical care they need,” said Rep. Mark Takano, Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. “The only people who should be making decisions about a young transgender person’s health are themselves, their parents, and their doctors—not Donald Trump and RFK Jr. These discriminatory, hypocritical, and cruel proposed regulations aim to cut off medically necessary care for transgender children throughout the country—but these proposed rules do not yet have the force of law. I urge healthcare providers to not pre-comply and instead continue to provide this lifesaving care.”

The first proposed rule would prohibit Medicaid funding for medically necessary healthcare, such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy, for trans young under 18 and Children’s Hospital Insurance Program funds from covering this care for trans young people under 19. The second proposed rule would bar hospitals that provide this care to trans youth from participating in Medicare and Medicaid. Both proposed rules have 60-day comment periods.

Every major medical and mental health association in the U.S., representing more than 1.3 million U.S. doctors, supports providing age-appropriate and affirming healthcare for transgender people. This includes the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Endocrine Society, among other organizations.