Therapy, not transition: Trump administration shifts trans youth health policy

The Trump administration has released a 409-page report urging a shift away from gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth, instead advocating for behavioral therapy.

The report, released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), questions the global standards set by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), particularly for minors experiencing gender dysphoria. It follows an executive order signed by President Trump during his second term, which bans federal support for gender transitions for individuals under 19.

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the Institutes of Health, stated, “We must follow the gold standard of science, not activist agendas,” criticizing the use of puberty blockers and hormone treatments as “unproven and irreversible.”

Despite pledges of radical transparency from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the administration has not disclosed the report's authors. It also excluded input from major medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Medical Association (AMA). AAP President Dr. Susan Kressly condemned the report, stating it misrepresented medical consensus and cited the AAP’s policies in misleading ways.

As reported by the Associated Press, Medical professionals and advocacy groups expressed alarm at the report’s implications. Shannon Minter, legal director at the Center for Lesbian Rights, called the report “Orwellian” and warned it could instill fear in families and care providers. Dr. Scott Leibowitz, a co-author of the WPATH standards, criticized the report’s bias towards aligning sex and gender, ignoring neutral treatment approaches.

The report emphasizes psychotherapy, claiming it is often sidelined. However, experts argue that talk therapy is already a core part of treatment plans. Studies indicate that only a small fraction of US adolescents undergo gender-affirming surgeries or hormone treatments. Many youths opt for social transitions or talk therapy without medical intervention.

Since taking office, Trump has enacted multiple policies targeting transgender rights, including cutting $477 million in grants supporting gender-affirming care. Several hospitals have ceased treatments, and a Supreme Court decision is pending on state-level bans. Critics view the latest report as a politicized attempt to undermine established medical practices.

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