WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing the federal government to refrain from aiding individuals under 19 years old in their gender transition process, marking a significant move towards realizing his campaign promise to end gender-affirming care for minors.

Since assuming office last week, Trump has actively worked to reverse transgender rights through executive measures. This recent action prevents the federal government from financing or helping minors access puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and surgical procedures related to gender transition.

The directive impacts health insurance plans for federal employees, as well as Medicaid, Medicare, and TRICARE, which is the healthcare program available to military personnel and their families.

“It is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another,” Trump stated, affirming his administration’s commitment to enforcing laws that limit these significant and potentially harmful procedures.

Trump has ordered the government to rescind the guidance from the Biden administration regarding gender-affirming care and instructed the Department of Health and Human Services to provide an evaluation of best practices for supporting children seeking transgender care within a 90-day timeframe.

He specified that only healthcare plans conforming to the new stipulations should be available for federal workers in 2026, and he called on his administration to collaborate with Congress to create laws that would allow children who have received gender-affirming care, and their parents, to pursue legal action.

Additionally, Trump directed the Department of Justice to prioritize investigations against states that may take custody of children from parents who oppose their child’s transgender treatment.

The Biden administration had participated in a Supreme Court case last year regarding limitations on gender-affirming care for minors. DOJ lawyers were part of a team challenging Tennessee’s prohibition in oral arguments delivered in December. The court has yet to reach a verdict, and the Trump administration could opt out of this case.

Trump’s directive from Tuesday tasked the DOJ with emphasizing the application of laws against “female genital mutilation,” although it did not directly reference the Tennessee case.

During his campaign, Trump promised to “stop the chemical, physical and emotional mutilation of our youth.” Since his return to office, he has issued executive orders forbidding the service of transgender individuals in the military and formalizing the recognition of only male and female as sexes by the federal government.

Liberal advocacy organizations swiftly rejected Trump’s announcement regarding transgender care for youth. Cait Smith, director of LGBTQI+ policy at the Center for American Progress, expressed her disapproval in a statement, arguing that Trump is undermining health care choices for transgender youth and their families.

“We all want the autonomy to make our own medical choices with guidance from trusted healthcare professionals. Today’s Executive Order follows the same old tactics used by MAGA Republican figures to interfere with women and their reproductive health, now extending to the medical decisions of families and doctors regarding their children,” Smith articulated.

Conversely, the conservative group Alliance Defending Freedom praised Trump’s order, referring to it as a “refreshing return to sanity,” as stated by senior counsel Matt Sharp.

“We commend President Trump for keeping his promise to American families and taking essential steps to shield children from harmful, experimental, and frequently irreversible medical procedures,” Sharp stated.

Contributing: Maureen Groppe