White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday praised the closure of multiple hospital programs offering transgender procedures for minors, calling the move a major victory for American families and children.
At the center of the development is the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, home to the nation’s largest pediatric transgender clinic, which announced the shutdown of its “Trans Youth Health and Development” program following the Trump administration’s decision to cut federal funding for any facility conducting so-called “gender-affirming care” on minors.
“This president wants to protect the innocence of children,” Leavitt told reporters during a White House press briefing. “And he’s delivering on that promise.”
The White House press secretary laid out the growing impact of Trump’s executive orders, which barred funding to any hospital or medical institution engaged in what the administration has condemned as “barbaric procedures” on minors.
“The president made it a very early priority to sign strong executive orders to cut off funding for any hospital that provides these irreversible and abusive practices,” Leavitt said. “And now, as a direct result, we are seeing a wave of closures.”
She listed several prominent hospitals now rolling back or ending their involvement in such procedures: Phoenix Children’s Hospital has stopped puberty blockers and hormone therapies for minors; Stanford Medicine in California has ended sex-change surgeries on minors; Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is closing its youth trans health program; and Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago has also halted sex-change surgeries.
“Let’s be clear about what we’re talking about,” Leavitt said firmly. “These are sex-change surgeries on children. These are chemical castrations. These are irreversible, experimental, and deeply harmful practices being imposed on confused kids. President Trump has made it clear — this will not be tolerated on his watch.”
Leavitt also slammed Democrats for embracing radical gender ideology and accused them of pushing policies that harm families. “The president was shocked at how quickly the left embraced these dangerous procedures. But under his leadership, that tide is turning.”
She emphasized that the public overwhelmingly backs the administration’s move. “This is a wildly popular and common-sense initiative. Most Americans believe children should be protected — not experimented on.”
President Trump’s bold executive actions are protecting American children from irreversible chemical and surgical mutilation and the facilities that offer these barbaric services are shutting down as a result.
Thanks to President Trump, gender ideology insanity is over. pic.twitter.com/ZvXALDaQae
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) July 17, 2025
Following the press conference, Leavitt posted on X:
“President Trump’s bold executive actions are protecting American children from irreversible chemical and surgical mutilation. The facilities that offer these barbaric services are shutting down as a result. Thanks to President Trump, gender ideology insanity is over.”
As Trump’s policies continue to reshape federal funding and healthcare guidelines nationwide, the administration has signaled more action is coming — with Leavitt vowing the White House will continue to “defend children and families from this ideological threat.”