The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has ordered on Tuesday the prohibition of sex reassignment procedures among minors under 19, particularly those involving chemical and surgical interventions.
"The policy of the United States is not to finance, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called 'transition' of a child from one sex to another, and to rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures," reads the executive order released in a statement by the White House, as reported by Europa Press.
Specifically, the Trump Administration aims to limit the "use of puberty blockers (...) and other interventions to delay the onset or progression of puberty typically scheduled in a person who does not identify with their sex," as well as the use of "sex hormones (...), surgical procedures to transform a person's physical appearance to align it with an identity different from their sex, or that attempt to alter or remove a person's sexual organs to minimize or destroy their natural biological functions.
To achieve this, the order establishes that federal agencies "will rescind or modify all policies based on the guidance of" the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), criticized for "lacking scientific integrity" according to the text. Additionally, the order accuses this organization of "disguising as medical necessity" the "blatant harm" inflicted on minors due to sex reassignment interventions.
Furthermore, healthcare and educational institutions receiving federal grants for research or education must end the "chemical and surgical mutilation of children." The heads of agencies and departments must act immediately to ensure this.
Agency directors will have two months to submit to the Government a report on the progress in implementing this order.
The new White House occupant has announced that "eligible (insurance) companies (...) will exclude coverage for pediatric transgender surgeries or hormonal treatments" for the 2026 health benefit programs for federal and postal service employees.
Additionally, the Secretary of the Department of Defense will regulate their TRICARE program providing medical insurance to nearly two million minors under 18, "to exclude chemical and surgical mutilation of children."
On the other hand, Health Secretary nominee, anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will publish within 90 days "a review of existing literature on best practices to promote the health of children claiming to have gender dysphoria, rapid-onset gender dysphoria, or other identity-based confusion."
The U.S. President has celebrated the signing of this order with a message on his Truth Social platform declaring the end of these "barbaric medical procedures", "that should never have been allowed to take place!"