Former President Donald Trump has signed an executive order halting federal support for "chemical and surgical" sex-change procedures for minors. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that essential programs like food stamps, Social Security, Medicare, and welfare benefits will remain unaffected.

The executive order, titled "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation," aims to curb what the administration describes as the harmful practice of medically altering children's sex. The order emphasizes the potential for lifelong medical complications, regret, and the inability to conceive or breastfeed naturally. It states that the U.S. will not finance, endorse, or support any form of child sex-change procedures and will strictly enforce existing laws limiting these interventions.

In a Truth Social post, Trump expressed his commitment to protecting children from what he termed "barbaric medical procedures." He directed federal agencies to sever financial ties with institutions offering these procedures.

Mark Trammell, executive director and general counsel of the Center for American Liberty, applauded Trump's decision, calling it a crucial step in safeguarding children from the "gender industrial complex." He criticized the Biden administration for prioritizing politics over children's well-being.

Conversely, Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, condemned the executive order, arguing that it interferes with personal healthcare choices. Robinson maintained that medical decisions should be made by families and doctors, not politicians.

This action follows the Trump DOJ's recent dismissal of charges against Dr. Eithan Haim, who exposed transgender procedures being performed on minors in Texas.

The Supreme Court recently heard arguments in a case challenging a Tennessee law banning transgender medical treatments for children, with a decision expected by July 2025. Similar bans have been enacted in over two dozen states.