Source: Politico
Summary
The Trump administration announced that it will no longer fund gender transition surgeries for minors using Medicaid. President Donald Trump ordered Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to stop funding such procedures, citing “unthinkable and irreversible harm” to children’s bodies. The CMS said it will implement a rule ending federal Medicaid and CHIP funding for gender-affirming care for children and youth, effective October 13. The move follows a Department of Health and Human Services review of research that found “significant evidence gaps” and “serious safety concerns” regarding such interventions.
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As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
The Trump administration’s announcement was made through a Truth Social post, with Trump stating that the procedures are “barbaric” and result in “irreversible harm”. Dr. Mehmet Oz echoed this sentiment, saying that the decision is based on science and aims to protect children from “experimental interventions”. The move is part of a larger trend, with 27 states having enacted restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors. The decision is likely to be a contentious issue in the upcoming midterm elections.
One wonders how the timing of this announcement might influence the narrative around the elections.
Author: Evan Null
