New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a warning to hospitals, stating that halting gender-affirming care for individuals under 19 in response to President Trump’s recent executive order would breach state laws. The order aimed to restrict federal funding for such treatments, denouncing them as “chemical and surgical mutilation of children.” James emphasized the hospitals’ obligation to adhere to New York’s anti-discrimination laws, regardless of federal funding availability.

The language of Trump’s order, using terms like “maiming” and “mutilation,” starkly contrasts with the standard practices of gender-affirming care in the U.S. Some hospitals in Colorado, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., have temporarily paused these treatments for young people as they assess the implications of the executive order.

Gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth remains a contentious issue, with limited data showing that less than 1 in 1,000 adolescents with commercial insurance in the U.S. received puberty blockers or hormones over a recent five-year period. This development underscores the complex intersection of healthcare, legal obligations, and political debate surrounding transgender rights in the country. Efforts to uphold inclusive and affirming healthcare practices for all individuals, especially marginalized communities, continue to be at the forefront of public discourse and legal actions.