On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that seeks to limit federal support for gender transitions in individuals under the age of 19.

This action is part of a broader initiative to roll back protections for transgender individuals nationwide.

The executive order states that the United States will not provide funding, sponsorship, or support for what it describes as the “transition” of minors from one sex to another.

It emphasizes the intent to enforce laws that restrict these medical procedures, which the order characterizes as “destructive” and “life-altering.”

Additionally, the order mandates that federally-run insurance programs, including TRICARE, which serves military families, and Medicaid, exclude coverage for gender-affirming care.

It calls on the Department of Justice to actively pursue legal actions and legislative measures against such practices.

In various states, Medicaid programs currently provide coverage for gender-affirming care.

However, this new directive suggests that such practices could be terminated, particularly targeting hospitals and universities that receive federal funding and offer these services.

The language used in the executive order includes terms like “maiming,” “sterilizing,” and “mutilation,” which stands in contrast to the more standard terminology typically associated with gender-affirming care in the United States.

Furthermore, it discredits guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, referring to it as “junk science.”