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Hospitals agree to halt gender-affirming care for transgender kids in deals with Trump administration
The deals end federal probes and include penalties of $8.5 million and $950,000, while hospitals say they are protecting patients and providers.
The Justice Department announced settlements last week with New York University Langone Hospitals and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centers, resolving federal investigations with $8.5 million and $950,000 penalties while both institutions agreed to end pediatric gender-affirming care.
These settlements follow an intense federal campaign launched in July 2025, when the Justice Department issued subpoenas demanding sensitive patient records, including names, as part of a broader strategy to restrict gender-affirming care for minors through funding threats.
Neither hospital admitted wrongdoing in the deals. NYU Langone stated the settlement protects families by removing the threat of forced disclosure of confidential patient records, part of a coordinated pattern involving at least six major health systems nationwide.
Federal officials plan to redirect settlement funds toward services for youth seeking to 'detransition.' Eliel Cruz, cofounder of the Gender Liberation Movement, called the precedent 'really dangerous' when the federal government politicizes care for any group.
At least 27 states have enacted laws restricting or barring gender-affirming care for minors. Recent appeals court rulings bolstered the administration's legal position, though ongoing legal challenges from providers and advocates continue challenging the broader retreat from these services.