Trump signs order restricting gender care for young people

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at restricting gender care for people under the age of 19.

In the order, Trump said federal support for such care would end. He called on the Health and Human Services secretary to “take all appropriate actions to end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children”.

The order said it was referring to treatments including puberty blockers, hormones such as oestrogen or testosterone, as well surgical procedures.

It is likely to face legal challenges.

The order directs federally-run insurance programmes to exclude coverage for treatments related to gender transition for minors. It also aims to stop medical institutions that receive federal grants providing such treatments.

More than 26 US states have already implemented restrictions on gender care for children and young people.

Multiple American medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Medical Association have argued that this kind of care is needed.

But the science on medical interventions in gender care, especially for children, is disputed. Several European countries have commissioned reviews.

Last year, a review of gender identity services for under-18s in England and Wales said children had been let down by a lack of research and “remarkably weak” evidence on medical interventions in gender care. BBC

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