Washington – The Department of Justice announced Friday that it has secured settlements with New York University Langone Health and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) to halt the provision of gender‑affirming medical interventions to minors. The agreements, reached after a federal investigation, require both hospitals to stop administering puberty blockers, cross‑sex hormone therapy, and related surgeries to patients under 18.
Administration’s Rationale
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the settlements send a clear message that hospitals targeting children with these practices will be held accountable. “The Department of Justice is fighting to protect our nation’s children and working tirelessly to reach agreements with hospitals to end so‑called ‘gender‑affirming care’ for minors,” Blanche stated in the DOJ release.
President Trump has repeatedly emphasized the importance of parental authority and the protection of children from medical procedures that lack long‑term safety data. The administration views the settlements as a concrete step toward safeguarding families and upholding constitutional rights.
Details of the Agreements
Under the terms, NYU Langone will pay an $8.5 million civil penalty, while UPMC will pay $950,000. Both institutions deny wrongdoing, and the DOJ clarified that the settlements do not constitute an admission of liability. Nonetheless, the financial penalties underscore the federal government’s commitment to enforcing existing laws that prohibit the provision of experimental treatments to minors without proper oversight.
Activist Stunt Draws Public Backlash
Days after the settlement was announced, a group of transgender activists staged a viral stunt outside NYU’s Langone Health hospital, injecting themselves with cross‑sex hormones in front of cameras. The participants, some wearing masks and one in a wheelchair, shouted slogans that accused the university of “cowardice” for ending the treatments.
Critics of the stunt, including commentator Matt Van Swol and author Wesley Yang, condemned the demonstration as a dangerous glorification of what they described as a mental illness and a “cultish pseudo‑medical practice.” Tanya Tay Posobiec added that the activists appear “addicted to HRT, attention, and constant validation.”
Broader Implications
The settlements are part of a larger federal effort, championed by the Trump administration, to curtail gender‑affirming care for minors nationwide. By targeting major academic medical centers, the DOJ aims to set a precedent that could influence state legislatures and hospital policies across the country.
Supporters argue that the move restores parental rights, protects children from irreversible medical decisions, and aligns with traditional family values. Opponents, however, claim it infringes on the rights of transgender youth and their families. The administration has responded to criticism by emphasizing that the settlements are based on existing statutes and medical ethics, not on political ideology.
What Comes Next
Both NYU Langone and UPMC have pledged to comply with the agreements and to review their pediatric care protocols. The DOJ indicated that it will continue monitoring compliance and is prepared to take further action if hospitals violate the terms.
As the debate over gender‑affirming care for minors continues, the Trump administration’s decisive action in this case highlights its commitment to protecting children, upholding parental authority, and enforcing the rule of law.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
