Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, urged major health care providers and insurers to comply with President Trump's executive order aimed at protecting children from chemical and surgical castration. He also sought information on whether these organizations use taxpayer dollars to support gender transition services for minors.
"In his first month in office, President Trump made clear that protecting children from chemical and surgical castration must be a priority. Americans do not want their tax dollars funding irreversible gender transition procedures on children," said Dr. Cassidy. "As Chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, I am working hand in glove with President Trump to protect America’s children from irreversible harm."
The executive order instructs federal agencies to enforce laws that restrict or prohibit such gender procedures. On July 9, the Department of Justice announced it had issued over 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics involved in these procedures for children as part of an investigation into alleged fraud and misstatements regarding their harms.
Furthermore, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized a rule in June preventing health insurance issuers under Essential Health Benefit requirements from covering "sex trait modification procedures." The Office of Personnel Management has also directed insurers covering federal employees not to fund transgender surgeries or hormone treatments for minors.
This move is part of Cassidy's ongoing investigation into medical organizations like the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which promotes gender transition procedures without reliable scientific data. WPATH's standards influence healthcare providers and insurers referencing these guidelines.
Cassidy is seeking information from several organizations including AHIP, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, American Hospital Association, Children's Hospital Association, Federation of American Hospitals, and National Association of Community Health Centers.
