The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is intensifying its scrutiny of transgender medical procedures for minors. An internal memo obtained by The Daily Wire reveals plans for a comprehensive workshop titled “The Big Lie: The Dangers of Gender-Affirming Care for Minors,” scheduled for July. This initiative aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader efforts to regulate and potentially litigate against practices deemed deceptive in promoting gender-affirming care to minors.
The memo highlights concerns that some medical providers may be misleading parents by overstating the benefits and downplaying the risks associated with gender-affirming treatments. It states, “There is now considerable reason to believe that the doctors and medical providers pushing [gender-affirming care] on minors are knowingly deceiving parents by exaggerating [gender-affirming care’s] ‘benefits’ and downplaying its harmful side effects.”
FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, appointed by President Trump, has been a vocal advocate for using the agency’s authority to investigate and potentially prosecute deceptive practices in the promotion of gender-affirming care. Before his appointment, Ferguson reportedly proposed leveraging the FTC to combat what he described as the “trans agenda,” focusing on the alleged misrepresentation of the safety and efficacy of such medical interventions.
The upcoming workshop aims to gather evidence and testimonies from experts and individuals affected by gender-affirming treatments. Notable participants include Dr. Miriam Grossman, Dr. Jay Richards of the Heritage Foundation, and Erin Friday, an attorney and co-leader of “Our Duty USA.” Chloe Cole, a detransitioner who began transitioning at 13 and later regretted the decision, is also expected to share her experiences.
The FTC’s memo emphasizes the lack of long-term studies on the effectiveness of gender-affirming care for minors. It notes, “There are no longitudinal studies on the effectiveness of [gender-affirming care] on minors,” and points out that while some medical organizations promote these treatments, there is no widespread consensus on their appropriateness for gender-dysphoric youth.
Furthermore, the memo outlines the potential risks associated with these medical interventions, including infertility, developmental harm, sexual dysfunction, blood clots, and osteoporosis. It asserts that these side effects are “widely acknowledged as medical fact” but are often minimized by advocates of gender-affirming care.
This initiative by the FTC represents a significant shift in federal oversight of transgender medical practices, signaling a more aggressive stance on consumer protection in this controversial area.
