SAEDNEWS: U.S. President Donald Trump, as part of his wave of executive orders at the start of his second term, has signed an order banning medical procedures aimed at changing the gender of children and minors.
According to SaedNews, citing IRNA, Trump's executive order eliminates federal funding for medical procedures intended for gender transition in minors.
The order prohibits the use of government funds for gender reassignment surgeries or hormone treatments for individuals under the age of 19.
Trump defended his decision, stating:
"Doctors across the United States are sterilizing an increasing number of children under the false pretense that they can change their gender through irreversible medical procedures."
He added:
"This dangerous trend will be a stain on our nation's history and must come to an end."
According to CNN, the executive order states that:
The U.S. government will provide no financial, promotional, logistical, or legal support for what is defined as a child's gender transition.
All existing laws that ban or restrict these procedures will be strictly enforced.
Medical interventions, such as hormone treatments and surgeries, fall under gender-affirming care, but these procedures are generally reserved for adults. International medical guidelines do not recommend surgical or medical interventions for transgender children before puberty. Studies indicate that even among teenagers and adults, gender-affirming surgeries are relatively rare.
The American Academy of Pediatrics defines gender-affirming care for children as a medically sound and non-judgmental treatment provided in a safe clinical environment. Such care is tailored to individual needs and backed by peer-reviewed scientific research proving its effectiveness.
Major U.S. medical organizations—including the American Medical Association (AMA), American Psychiatric Association (APA), Endocrine Society, American Psychological Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry—have emphasized that gender-affirming care is a medically appropriate treatment that can be life-saving for both children and adults.
Trump’s order directs federal agencies to repeal policies based on guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), claiming that such guidelines lack scientific credibility—despite the fact that medical experts worldwide recognize them as the gold standard for transgender healthcare.