House Republicans have taken a significant step toward enshrining President Donald Trump‘s executive order that prohibits federal funding for gender transition procedures on minors. Following a 26-hour markup session, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a provision introduced by Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) as part of the broader Trump-backed budget bill.
The provision aims to block federal funds from programs such as Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program from being used for gender transition procedures on minors. Crenshaw emphasized the necessity of codifying the executive order into law to ensure its permanence, stating, “You got to protect these kids, the science is clear at this point.”
Notably, Democrats did not introduce amendments to counter this specific provision, a departure from their approach to other GOP-backed proposals. Crenshaw interpreted this as an acknowledgment of the provision’s strength, asserting, “They know it’s a losing issue… Stop doing pseudo-science, scientific experiments on children who would be better off in therapy.”
The provision is part of a larger effort by the House Energy Committee to identify $880 billion in spending cuts. Another proposal from Crenshaw includes an 80-hour-per-month work, training, or volunteer requirement for able-bodied, working-age adults without dependents to qualify for Medicaid, with exceptions for seniors, pregnant women, caregivers, students, and individuals with disabilities.
If enacted, this legislation would solidify President Trump’s executive order titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” which directs the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that no federal funds support institutions performing gender transition procedures on minors. The Department has released a report outlining the risks associated with such procedures, including infertility, sexual dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease.
In the Senate, Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) is advocating for the “No Subsidies for Gender Transition Procedures Act,” which seeks to prohibit federal funding for any transgender medical procedures. This initiative aligns with the House’s efforts and underscores a concerted legislative push to restrict federal involvement in gender transition procedures for minors.
