Children’s Hospital To SHUT DOWN Transgender Center Amid Pressure From Trump Administration

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Children’s Hospital Los Angeles intends to close its Center for Transyouth Health and Development and Gender-Affirming Care surgical program, citing pressure from the Trump administration.

President Trump signed an executive order in January to cut federal funding for gender-affirming care programs for minors.

“In the end, this painful and difficult decision was driven by the need to safeguard CHLA’s ability to operate amid significant external pressures beyond our control,” the hospital stated in an internal email shared with CBS News.

Per CBS News:

A stream of challenges led to the decision to close the center, including “significant operational, legal, and financial risks stemming from the shifting policy landscape at both the state and federal levels.”

Noting California’s budget crisis, President Trump’s executive orders, proposed federal legislation and rulemaking, and growing economic uncertainty, CHLA said each of these alone is a problem, but combined they make the situation “dire.”

The hospital said it began notifying patients of the closure and CHLA care teams are helping patients to find potential alternative providers.

“CHLA will explore reassigning impacted employees to other roles within the hospital based on needs and available funding,” the email stated.

WATCH:

KABC reports:

While the email cited many legal and financial factors, it underscored Trump’s executive order impacting gender-affirming care and how there would be severe consequences to hospitals that continue to offer transgender medicine for pediatric patients. The consequences include termination of federal funding and not being able to participate in the Medicaid and Medi-Cal program.

Hospital officials say without those funding sources, CHLA would only be able to stay afloat for 50 days.

The center and program will close on July 22.

CHLA says parents will start getting notified Thursday and will help patients find alternative providers.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center announced a rally outside CHLA following the announcement of the closure.



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