Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta announced it will no longer perform sex change services for minors, following increased pressure from the Trump administration to halt these controversial procedures. The hospital’s decision marks a significant shift as federal actions target institutions that allow gender transition treatments for children.
Last week, the hospital notified parents who had previously authorized these procedures, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A spokeswoman for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta said the decision was a “system-level” move to comply with state and federal laws. “Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is fully compliant with all statutory provisions enacted in 2023 by Georgia Senate Bill 140 and is taking the necessary steps to comply with applicable federal laws,” she said. The spokeswoman added that the hospital is “closely monitoring recent federal government activity, including recent executive orders.”
Georgia Senate Bill 140, enacted in 2023, prohibits certain surgical procedures for treating gender dysphoria in minors. It permits exceptions only for minors already undergoing puberty blockers or cross-sex hormone treatments prior to the law’s passage. While the law set the initial framework, new federal policies under President Donald Trump are tightening the restrictions even further.
Upon taking office, President Trump signed an executive order cutting research funding and grants to healthcare institutions that offer sex change treatments to minors. The order covers not only surgeries but also puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone therapies. Although a federal judge temporarily blocked the executive order last month, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta still chose to halt the treatments, anticipating continued legal and political challenges.
The move also reflects growing public sentiment. A majority of Americans now support a federal ban on sex change services for minors, according to polling by Center Square. Families across the country are increasingly concerned about the long-term effects of such treatments on young children.
