New York attorney general enforces transgender care law amid federal order

On February 3, 2025, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a directive to hospitals, stating that they would be in violation of state law if they ceased providing gender-affirming care for individuals under the age of 19 due to a recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The executive order aimed to limit federal funding for such treatments, framing them in extreme terms such as 'chemical and surgical mutilation.' This controversial perspective contradicts widely accepted practices regarding gender-affirming care in the U.S. Moreover, James underscored that irrespective of federal funding circumstances, adherence to New York's anti-discrimination laws is mandatory. As a response to the political climate, some hospitals in Colorado, Virginia, and Washington D.C. have paused gender-affirming treatments to assess the legal ramifications of Trump's order. On the same day, the White House acknowledged that the executive order was already influencing hospital practices across the country. The Greater New York Hospital Association indicated that they were actively collaborating with member hospitals to understand the implications of these new regulations and to ensure compliance with state laws. This situation has ignited intense political debate surrounding gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth, highlighting the dichotomy between federal and state regulations regarding this sensitive area of healthcare.