In its most direct statement on transgender care, the Biden administration said it opposes gender-affirming surgery for minors, The New York Times reported June 28.
The Times recently reported on the staff for Adm. Rachel Levine, MD, an assistant HHS secretary, urging an international transgender health organization to remove age minimums for surgery from its treatment guidelines for minors. A draft of the guideline recommended lowering age minimums to 14 for hormonal treatments, 15 for mastectomies, 16 for breast augmentation or facial surgeries, and 17 for genital surgeries or hysterectomies.
The final guideline did not include the age-based recommendations.
"Adm. Levine shared her view with her staff that publishing the proposed lower ages for gender transition surgeries was not supported by science or research, and could lead to an onslaught of attacks on the transgender community," an HHS spokesperson told the Times.
This marks the first time the Biden administration has commented on and explicitly opposed gender-affirming surgery; past statements have supported other forms of gender-affirming care.
It is rare for minors to undergo these surgeries, but national attention on the issue spans far, according to the Times.
At the same time, the Supreme Court plans to review the constitutionality of Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for people younger than 18. The state law prevents minors from receiving puberty blockers and hormones. The case will be the first time the Supreme Court considers whether restrictions on gender-affirming care violate the Constitution.