More than 80 House Democrats are calling on President Trump to revoke an executive order to broadly restrict access to gender-affirming health care for transgender young people, alleging the directive is unconstitutional and puts lives at risk.
Trump signed the order, one of several targeting transgender rights, during his second week back in office. It accuses medical professionals of “maiming and sterilizing” children and directs government officials to slash federal support for transition-related care for trans youth under 19.
Federal judges in Baltimore and Seattle temporarily blocked the order this month, preventing agencies from withholding funds from medical facilities that provide the care to minors. Some hospitals had begun suspending care over threats to their federal funding.
In a letter sent Tuesday to Trump, 89 House Democrats, led by Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), called Trump’s order “an astonishing attempt to interfere in private health care decisions.”
“Trans young people, their parents and their doctors should be the ones making their health care decisions. No one should need to ask the President’s permission to access life-saving, evidence-based health care,” the lawmakers wrote.
Major medical organizations say gender-affirming care for both transgender adults and minors is medically necessary and can be lifesaving, though not every trans person chooses to medically transition or has access to care. Half of states have banned transition-related care, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery, for youth since 2021.
A separate education-related executive order signed by Trump takes aim at “social” transition, which is most often recommended fo minors who have not yet begun puberty and does not include any medical interventions.
“As Members of Congress, we stand united with trans young people and their families,” Democrats wrote Tuesday. “We will fight you every step of the way if you choose to go down this path. Let us be clear: your actions will mean young people suffer enormously. We urge you to rescind this dangerous order immediately.”
In an interview, Balint said she hopes the letter will send a message to transgender young people and their families that they aren’t alone.
“There are members of Congress who are fighting this fight, and we’re not accepting it,” she said of Trump’s efforts to roll back trans rights. “It’s also important for us to stand up to someone who threatens and bullies and intimidates and believes that he can beat us all into submission through his callousness and his cruelty.”
