US President Donald Trump announced on August 12, 2026, that Medicaid will no longer finance gender transition surgeries and hormone treatments for individuals under 18 years old. The directive, shared via Trump’s Truth Social account and the White House Facebook page, was addressed to Dr. Mehmet Oz, who oversees the Medicaid program.
Trump described these medical procedures as "barbaric" and harmful to children, emphasizing his administration’s refusal to fund what he characterized as irreversible interventions on minors. He stated, "We are not going to pay for our innocent children to undergo these barbaric surgeries and practices, which result in unthinkable and irreversible harm to their young bodies."
The president highlighted that sustained government pressure over the last 18 months has led dozens of US hospitals to discontinue gender-affirming care services. He expressed confidence that more institutions will follow suit.
This policy shift aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to roll back federally funded healthcare provisions related to gender transition, particularly for minors, building upon earlier executive actions since Trump’s return to office.
Political Context
Trump framed this move as a clear point of divergence from the Democratic Party ahead of the November midterm elections, signaling a continued focus on gender-related healthcare policies as a key political issue.
