Three weeks after pausing hormone therapy for minors, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) has reversed its decision and will continue offering transition medical treatments for patients under 19.
This change comes after CHLA initially announced it would comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order, which halted federal support for gender transitions for minors. The hospital acknowledged the ongoing legal and political challenges surrounding the issue but decided to resume treatments despite these concerns.
In January, Trump signed an executive order directing federally funded insurance programs, including TRICARE and Medicaid, to exclude coverage for gender transition procedures for minors. The order also called on the Department of Justice to take legal action against hospitals and universities providing such care. Trump described these medical procedures as “barbaric” and encouraged Congress to pass a law allowing individuals who later regret their transitions—or their parents—to sue healthcare providers.
However, two federal judges have since put temporary holds on the order. U.S. District Court Judge Lauren King granted a restraining order in response to lawsuits filed by Democratic attorneys general in Washington, Oregon, and Minnesota. A separate ruling by a federal judge in Baltimore also blocked the order after families with transgender children challenged it.
Despite the legal battles, Trump’s move reflects growing concerns among many Americans about medical interventions on minors and the long-term consequences of such treatments. As the debate continues, institutions like CHLA are facing increasing scrutiny over their role in providing these controversial procedures.
“Like many pediatric hospitals and providers across the country, we are actively monitoring the shifting political and regulatory landscape to better understand and respond to actions that threaten our ability to provide care, conduct groundbreaking research, and train the next generation of child health clinicians. As the largest pediatric safety net provider in California, with over 70% of our patients insured through Medicaid, CHLA must carefully consider the implications of state and federal policies on our ability to provide care to our patients. As we work to address the challenges posed to CHLA and our ability to deliver on our mission, we urge state and national leaders to help us ensure CHLA is well-positioned to continue offering care to all its patients now and in the future,” the hospital wrote in a statement.
