• The Trump administration’s HHS released a report questioning the legitimacy of gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
• Significant medical organizations oppose the report, highlighting that evidence supports gender-affirming treatments.
• The report suggests that psychotherapy should be prioritized over medical interventions for youth with gender dysphoria.
• Critics label the report as politically motivated and misleading, equating its recommendations to discredited conversion therapy practices.

The Trump administration's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a controversial report that reviews gender-affirming care for transgender youth, stating a "lack of robust evidence" supporting such medical interventions. The report advocates for psychotherapy as a treatment for gender dysphoria instead, thus suggesting a shift in policy that aligns with President Trump's executive order against supporting gender transitions for anyone under 19, issued earlier this year. National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya emphasized, "Our duty is to protect our nation's children — not expose them to unproven and irreversible medical interventions," raising concerns that psychotherapy is being presented as a substitute for necessary medical care, according to Indiatimes and The Hill.

This 400-page report disputes guidance from respected medical associations like the American Medical Association and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, which support evidence-based gender-affirming treatments. Critics counter that the claims in the review misrepresent available data, which show that gender-affirming care significantly benefits mental health. A legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Shannon Minter, stated, "Today's report seeks to erase decades of research and learning, replacing it with propaganda," illustrating the backlash against the report's conclusions, according to HuffPost and ABC News.

The HHS report emphasizes the alleged risks of medical interventions such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy, including concerns about infertility and long-term health effects. It posits that “evidence on the long-term health, psychological outcomes, quality of life or regret is very low," despite opposing studies illustrating that many transgender individuals experience elevated mental wellbeing from access to such care. Minter further pointed out that the report could instill fear among families and healthcare providers seeking supportive care for transgender youth, according to Los Angeles Times and Indiatimes.

Experts argue that the push towards psychotherapy instead of gender-affirming medical interventions parallels efforts to legitimize conversion therapy practices that aim to suppress transgender identities. Dr. Aisha Mays, a medical professional, described the recommendations as "propaganda" intended to undermine established and effective medical practices for transgender individuals. The report has sparked widespread outrage in the medical community, leading organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics to decry the report's lack of scientific integrity and the dangers it poses to pediatric care, as noted in The Hill and ABC News.

Despite the report's contentious reception, it may bolster the ongoing legislative push in various states to restrict or ban access to gender-affirming treatments for minors. The fight against gender-affirming care has gained traction with over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in recent legislative sessions, exacerbating the challenges faced by transgender individuals seeking healthcare, according to HuffPost and Los Angeles Times.