Chronicle Editor
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday seeking to limit access to gender transition surgeries for people younger than 19, marking the president’s latest policy move against transgender rights
The order, titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” looks to stop federal programs from funding, sponsoring, promoting, assisting or supporting gender transitions for individuals under 19 years of age.
Trump said in the order the U.S. will “rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures.”
Federal insurance programs are targeted in the order, with Tricare and Medicaid being ordered to exclude gender transitions for those under 19 from their coverage.
Health and human services, which would be Robert F. Kennedy Jr. if he is confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday, to publish a review of the “existing literature on best practices for promoting the health of children who assert gender dysphoria, rapid-onset gender dysphoria, or other identity-based confusion.”
Trump’s order against gender transitions came a day after the president also ordered a ban on transgender people serving in the military. The order was by six active duty transgender service members and two transgender people planning to enlist. Jennifer Levi, the senior director of transgender and queer Rights at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, said in a the policy “betrays fundamental American values of equal opportunity and judging people on their merit.”
Trump vowed during his campaign to roll back protections for the transgender community and has since backed up his promises with multiple executive orders. On his first day in office, the president signed an declaring the federal government would only recognize two sexes, male and female, to be assigned at birth. The order does not recognize transgender, binary or intersex people. Trump’s orders targeting the transgender community at the federal level adds on to a surge in barring or limiting access to gender-affirming care.
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