NEW: UChicago Medicine Discontinues “Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy” and “Puberty Blocking Therapy” On Minors Amid Federal Pressure 

On July 18^th, 2025, UChicago Medicine released a statement announcing its immediate termination of “all gender-affirming pediatric care” due to “federal actions.” Before the halt, UChicago Medicine’s Clinic for Affirmation and Reproductive Equity (Trans CARE) provided services such as “gender-affirming hormone therapy” and “puberty blocking therapy” to pediatric patients identifying as transgender or gender non-conforming.

UChicago Medicine called their decision “difficult” and acknowledged that it would “have a significant impact on our patients.” However, the institution justified the change by citing concerns of being excluded from accepting patients with Medicare or Medicaid: “We reached this conclusion in light of emerging federal actions which would place at risk our ability to care for all Medicare or Medicaid patients. These patients make up the majority of those we serve. As the largest Medicaid provider in Illinois, this step is necessary to ensure UChicago Medicine can continue serving our broader community and delivering on our mission.”

On January 28^th, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” which instructed the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to “take all appropriate actions to end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children.” To achieve this, the order called for regulatory and sub-regulatory actions involving “Medicare or Medicaid conditions of participation or conditions for coverage” which defines whether health organizations are eligible to participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs.

The executive order also directed heads of executive departments and agencies responsible for providing research or education grants to medical institutions, which includes the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to “ensure that institutions receiving Federal research or education grants end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children.” In the 2024 fiscal year, UChicago Medicine received $276 million from the NIH.

The enforcement of Trump’s executive order was blocked by a federal judge on May 1^st, 2025, and is pending further legal proceedings. However, on July 9^th, 2025, the Department of Justice sent over 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics that performed “transgender medical procedures on children” to investigate “healthcare fraud, false statements, and more.”

Other medical institutions in Illinois have also cancelled transgender-related medical services. Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Lurie Children’s Hospital halted “gender-care surgeries” for individuals under the age of 19, and Rush University Medical Center paused its hormonal care program for new patients under the age of 18.

When asked for comment, UChicago Medicine referenced their public statement and declined to comment on how many pediatric patients were provided hormone therapy or puberty-blocking therapy to treat gender dysphoria.