Dallas‑based federal prosecutors played a key role in a nationwide settlement that requires New York’s Mount Sinai Health System to halt all pediatric gender‑related medical interventions. The Department of Justice announced the agreement on Sept. 4, 2026, after a multi‑agency investigation into possible violations of federal health‑care laws.
What the agreement entails
Under the deal, Mount Sinai must cease prescribing puberty blockers, cross‑sex hormones, and performing gender‑transition surgeries on anyone under 19. The health system will also allocate $2 million to provide free medical care for individuals who claim to have suffered lasting harm from such treatments received as children. The settlement does not specify how many minors were treated, nor does it set an effective date for the new rules.
Federal involvement and rationale
The Northern District of Texas U.S. Attorney’s Office worked with the DOJ’s Civil Division, the HHS Office of Inspector General, and the FDA’s Criminal Investigations Unit. U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said the office will continue to use both civil and criminal tools when hospitals, providers, or drug manufacturers appear to violate the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the False Claims Act, or other federal statutes.
Attorney General Todd Blanche called the settlement a “meaningful relief” for those already harmed, noting that Mount Sinai cooperated proactively throughout the investigation.
Context of a broader federal effort
Mount Sinai is the fourth major health system to reach a settlement in the DOJ’s ongoing probe. Earlier agreements include Texas Children’s Hospital (May 2026), which paid a $10 million penalty and created a post‑treatment clinic; the Cleveland Clinic, which paid $308,000 and pledged $2 million for related care; and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, which committed $500,000.
These actions align with President Trump’s executive order of Jan. 28, 2025, directing federal agencies to end government support for pediatric gender‑related procedures and to investigate potential consumer fraud and drug‑law violations. The order defines a child as anyone younger than 19.
Implications for families and providers
Supporters of the settlements argue that ending these pediatric treatments protects children from irreversible physical changes and safeguards taxpayer dollars. Critics contend that the moves limit access to care for transgender youth and may set a precedent for broader restrictions on medical decision‑making.
The Justice Department says its investigation remains active, with additional hospitals and pharmaceutical companies under review for possible false‑claim billing or misuse of diagnosis codes.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
