Common Sense Prevails: Trump Administration Ends Taxpayer-Funded Transgender Experimentation on Children

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, President Trump announced that federal Medicaid funding will no longer be used for gender transition surgeries and procedures on minors, ensuring American taxpayers are not forced to subsidize these destructive and irreversible medical interventions.

Members of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) have led the fight to end these risky, life-altering experimentations on children and raise awareness of the profound and well-documented harm gender transition procedures can inflict on America’s vulnerable youth. While Democrats promote policies that fuel a mental health crisis and enable the rise in violence by radical Left-wing individuals motivated by transgender activism, Republicans are working hard to restore integrity to government programs and ensure the long-term well-being of America’s next generation.

Here’s what RSC Members had to say about the Trump administration’s decision to prioritize the safety of American kids ahead of radical gender ideology:

“American taxpayers should never be forced to fund dangerous and irreversible procedures on children. President Trump and his administration are right to put an end to this outrageous use of Medicaid dollars and restore common sense and accountability to our government. As a physician, a father, and a member of the Congressional Family Caucus, I believe our responsibility is to protect children, not bankroll procedures that can leave them with lifelong consequences. That is why I introduced the Chloe Cole Act and why Congress must act to ensure that necessary protections for minors are permanently established under federal law. I thank President Trump and his administration for their continued leadership on this issue,” said Rep. Bob Onder (MO-03).

“Children deserve the freedom to grow up without the government funding irreversible medical interventions that can permanently alter their bodies. It is reckless to pretend that putting children on a path toward lifelong medical consequences is somehow compassionate or common sense. American taxpayers should never be forced to bankroll this dangerous experiment. Protecting kids and restoring accountability to our government isn’t extreme, it’s responsible,” said RSC Messaging Task Force Chairman Mark Alford (MO-04).

“The removal of healthy body parts on a gender-dysmorphic minor is akin to conducting liposuction on an anorexic teen. Taxpayers must not be forced to fund childhood dysphoria with sterilizing procedures that leave our young people permanently damaged. President Trump and Dr. Mehmet Oz are restoring integrity to our federally administered health care programs while protecting children from this new predatory industry behind the child transgender craze,” said Rep. Harriet Hageman (WY-AL).

“As both a physician and a legislator, my primary commitment has consistently been the safety and well-being of our children. We are seeing a disturbing trend where radical ideologies have overtaken evidence-based medicine, causing irreversible and terrible damage to children. The evidence shows that puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgical procedures are extremely harmful and simply the wrong approach. I commend CMS Administrator Dr. Oz for his efforts in this regard. Taxpayer dollars should never pay for these evil practices that result in the mutilation of children under the guise of care,” said Rep. Mike Kennedy (UT-03).

“As a mother and a grandmother, I’ve long said that our kids are not experiments, and they shouldn’t be used to advance a radical and unethical agenda at taxpayer expense. These irreversible sex-rejecting procedures are harmful for our children, and this week’s decision restores basic accountability to a federal program that’s meant to serve the truly vulnerable. I’m grateful to see this administration putting patients first and finally drawing a commonsense line that protects our kids,” said Rep. Diana Harshbarger (TN-01).

“The federal government should not be in the business of mutilating children. I'm grateful for President Trump's leadership in ending the taxpayer funding of gender mutilation and radical trans ideology, and it’s insane that this policy change was necessary in the first place,” said Rep. Riley Moore (WV-02).

“First of all, I do not believe that children are capable of making the permanent, life-altering decision to undergo gender transition surgery. States don’t even allow minors under a certain age to get a tattoo, even with parental permission, much less undergo a procedure as serious and irreversible as gender transition surgery. Secondly, taxpayers should not be expected to foot the bill for these procedures. That’s why I’m glad to hear that the White House and CMS recently announced that Medicaid will no longer fund gender transition surgeries for children. This is great news for taxpayers, but even better news for vulnerable children in our nation,” said Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04).

“Common-sense is back. Taxpayer dollars should not be spent mutilating our children to appease the cult of radical gender ideology which denies reality and promises false hope. Young children should be protected, not told that there is something wrong with their bodies and pushed toward irreversible damage,” said Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04).

“This is a win for children, a win for taxpayers, and a win for common sense. Medicaid was created to provide essential healthcare to Americans in true need — not to sponsor irreversible gender transition surgeries on children. As a physician and father, I applaud President Trump and CMS for drawing a firm line and putting the well-being of children and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars before ideological idiocy. Children should be protected from making irreversible medical decisions with lifelong consequences, and hardworking Americans should not be forced to pay for them. This is a fight I have been proud to lead in Congress, and it’s why I introduced the PROTECTS Act to prohibit federal taxpayer dollars from funding gender transition procedures on minors. I am encouraged to see the Trump Administration taking decisive action toward that same goal, and we must continue working to protect the next generation and ensure these safeguards endure,” said Rep. Rich McCormick (GA-07).

“The federal government should not be paying for gender transition surgeries for children. I am grateful to the Trump Administration for taking additional action to protect our children and ensure that taxpayer funds are not used for such procedures. CMS announcing that Medicaid will no longer fund gender transition surgeries on minors is a big step in the right direction,” said Rep. Michael Guest (MS-03).

“I am thrilled by the announcement that harmful and controversial gender transition surgeries on minors will no longer come at a cost to the taxpayer. Thank you, President Trump, for continuing to stand with the American people by protecting children and safeguarding taxpayer dollars. Republicans are delivering on the promise of preserving family values,” said Rep. Erin Houchin (IN-09).

“Medicaid was designed to help the most vulnerable Americans. Children should never be pushed into irreversible procedures that can alter the course of their lives forever. I commend President Trump and CMS for standing up for our future generation and ensuring that hardworking taxpayers are not forced to fund a radical agenda. Our kids should never be experiments,” said Rep. Ralph Norman (SC-05).

Background: Rep. Bob Onder (MO-03) previously called on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to immediately end taxpayer subsidization of so-called “gender transition” procedures through Health Savings Accounts and Obamacare plans. RSC Members also applauded the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) for ruling to uphold Tennessee's law to ban transgender care for minors and protect generations of children from the dangers of hormone drugs, life-altering surgeries, and more.