Mount Sinai Health System and NYU Langone Health, two prominent New York City healthcare providers, have agreed to halt gender-affirming care for minors. This decision stems from investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice into alleged violations of federal law regarding these procedures. Mount Sinai will pay a "monetary penalty" and dedicate $2 million to provide free medical care for individuals suffering from adverse effects of past gender-affirming treatments received as children. NYU Langone will pay $8.5 million in a similar arrangement. Both hospitals deny any wrongdoing and state that these agreements are aimed at avoiding prolonged litigation and protecting patient data.
These agreements are part of a broader nationwide investigation launched by the Civil Division of the DOJ, acting on directives from President Trump's order "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation." The investigation examines potential violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the False Claims Act, and other federal healthcare laws, including fraudulent billing practices. The DOJ asserts that hospitals were "targeting" children with these procedures and fraudulently obtaining payments.
Other major hospital systems across the U.S. have also reached similar agreements with the Trump administration. These include Texas Children’s Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Connecticut Children’s Hospital, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), which will pay $950,000. The DOJ's actions have been criticized by some state and city officials, including U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who expressed disappointment in NYU Langone for acceding to pressure to potentially violate constitutional rights.
Both Mount Sinai and NYU Langone had previously ended their trans youth health programs earlier this year after the Trump administration threatened to pull federal funding, including access to Medicaid and Medicare. The DOJ had also subpoenaed these hospitals for health information on minors who received gender-affirming care, though these actions were reportedly blocked in court. The hospitals emphasize that their agreements with the DOJ do not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing.
