HHS Urges Medical Boards to Abandon Ideologically Driven Gender Dysphoria Guidelines

CREDIT: ABC News

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Wednesday that Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has issued a letter urging health care providers and medical boards to revise treatment protocols for youth diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

The letter, which HHS also shared on social media, warns providers against relying on guidance from what Kennedy described as ideologically motivated organizations, including the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). “These and other guidelines based on the so-called ‘gender-affirming’ model of care should not be relied upon to harm children any further,” the letter states.

On May 1, 2025, HHS released a 409-page report, reviewing what is commonly referred to as “gender-affirming care.” The report found that medical interventions such as puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and surgical procedures have shown negligible impact on reducing depression and suicide rates among individuals with gender dysphoria. Additionally, the study highlighted the irreversible harm done by such interventions, especially in children, and emphasized the benefits of psychological therapy.

The report quickly drew criticism from mainstream media outlets and advocacy groups, including the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and WPATH—all of which support medical transition interventions for minors, including surgery.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller weighed in on the matter, stating: “These procedures violate all sound medical ethics. They are completely unwarranted. They harm children irreversibly. It is child torture. It is child abuse. It is medical malpractice.”

HHS is now applying pressure on U.S. medical professionals to align their practices with the department's findings, which represent the best available scientific evidence. Secretary Kennedy’s letter urges providers to review the department’s findings and “update your treatment protocols and training to ensure that our nation’s children are protected from harm.”

The announcement has been welcomed by parents, who say they have felt sidelined amid the growing prevalence of gender ideology in schools, universities, and media. HHS’s firm stance is being hailed as a significant victory for child welfare and parental rights.

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