President Trump has made it clear that his administration will not look the other way when it comes to protecting children. His recent push to limit gender-transition procedures for minors is not about targeting anyone. It is about making sure kids are not pressured into life-altering decisions they cannot fully understand.
The administration recently sent subpoenas to several hospitals, including the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, asking for information about transition procedures on patients under nineteen. Critics call this an attack, but parents across the country see it as long overdue. If hospitals are performing permanent surgeries or giving powerful drugs to children, the public has a right to know. Taxpayer dollars should not be funding controversial treatments that remain unsettled even within the medical community.
Next year, federal employee health plans will also see changes. Surgeries tied to gender transitions will no longer be covered, though counseling and mental health care will remain available. This is a sensible adjustment. Children who are not old enough to drive or vote should not be steered into irreversible operations, and the government should not be paying for them.
These moves follow earlier orders Trump signed that reestablished a clear definition of biological sex, protected the integrity of women’s sports, and set limits on medical transitions for minors. Taken together, the policies form a consistent approach: protect kids, respect parents, and base government policy on biological truth rather than ideology.
Opponents argue that blocking medical transitions denies care, but that ignores what real care looks like. Children need guidance, patience, and support as they grow. They do not need to be fast-tracked into decisions they may regret for the rest of their lives. Any parent knows that teenagers can change their minds about everything from their favorite food to what career they want someday. Expecting them to permanently change their bodies is reckless.
This is also a question of federal responsibility. States that want to allow these procedures can make that choice, but the federal government should not force every taxpayer to pay for it. Trump’s stance restores a balance of power and ensures that states remain free to set their own policies while Washington steps back from imposing ideology nationwide.
At its heart, this is about protecting children from being caught up in political and cultural battles. They deserve the chance to grow up before making life-altering decisions. They deserve leaders who will put their well-being first. President Trump has taken that stand, and many families are relieved to see someone finally willing to draw the line.