STANFORD UNIVERSITY – Stanford Medicine is no longer providing gender-affirming surgeries to LGBTQ+ patients under the age of 19, a move it says was influenced in part by the “latest actions and directives” from the federal government.
“After careful review of the latest actions and directives from the federal government and following consultations with clinical leadership, including our multidisciplinary LGBTQ+ program and its providers, Stanford Medicine paused providing gender-related surgical procedures as part of our comprehensive range of medical services for LGBTQ+ patients under the age of 19, effective June 2, 2025,” the health care provider said in a statement provided to this news organization.
The decision was first reported Tuesday afternoon by the San Francisco Chronicle.
“We took this step to protect both our providers and patients,” Stanford said. “This was not a decision we made lightly, especially knowing how deeply this impacts the individuals and families who depend on our essential care and support. Even as circumstances change, we remain committed to providing high quality, thorough and compassionate medical services for every member of our community.”
The Trump administration has been trying to restrict access to gender-affirming care, which includes a range of medical and mental health services to support a person’s gender identity, or their sense of feeling male, female, neither or some combination.
Fewer than 1 in 1,000 U.S. adolescents receive gender-affirming medications, a study released this year concluded.
Gender-affirming care can also include surgery, including operations to alter genitals and chests, but another study found these procedures are rarely offered to minors.
The decision preceded a U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care. Last week, a majority found the ban does not violate the Constitution’s equal protection clause, which requires the government to treat similarly situated people the same.
Trump has ordered no federal taxpayer money be used to pay for gender-affirming care for those under the age of 19. Enforcement of the order is currently on hold. He has also tried to block federal funding from institutions that provide care for youths.
With federal funding in peril, Santa Clara County has moved to fiscally separate the Gender Health Center and Gender Clinic from other federally funded health care programs. The county will instead fund the programs using $1.2 million from a $2.86 million reserve set aside earlier this year to offset the impacts of federal actions.
Elsewhere in California, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is closing its Center for Transyouth Health and Development on July 22. In a statement, the hospital said although it was proud to have provided “high-quality, evidence-based, medically essential care for transgender and gender-diverse youth, young adults and their families,” it has been left with “no viable path forward” other than to close the center.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Check back for updates.