The FBI has launched criminal investigations into three prominent children’s hospitals, Boston Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, after the Department of Justice applied federal statutes prohibiting female genital mutilation (FGM) to gender-affirming care provided to minors.
This follows an April directive by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who claimed that certain gender-affirming medical procedures fall under the legal definition of FGM, a felony carrying up to 10 years in prison per violation. Bondi also announced a new “Coalition Against Child Mutilation” and introduced proposals to allow civil lawsuits by patients or guardians who claim harm from such procedures.
The timing of these investigations is especially notable, as they coincide with Stanford Medicine’s recent decision to halt all gender-related surgeries for patients under 19. Effective June 2, Stanford’s decision comes amid growing pressure from federal and state officials. Though the broader pediatric gender clinic at Stanford remains open, offering puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and mental health services, the surgical pause signals a chilling shift in institutional response to political and legal scrutiny.
For many families and medical providers, this aggressive interpretation of FGM law poses a dangerous threat to evidence-based care. Gender-affirming treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapy are supported by major medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Endocrine Society. Decades of clinical data indicate these interventions significantly reduce rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality among transgender youth.
One parent, whose child receives care at one of the targeted hospitals, expressed rising fear: “We just want what’s best for our child. Now routine care could land doctors in prison.” A pediatric specialist at another hospital offered a blunt assessment: “This isn’t genital mutilation. It’s care. Care that helps our patients live.”
Each hospital under investigation has responded differently. Boston Children’s continues to provide puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors while stating that gender-affirming surgeries are only performed on patients over 18. Children’s Hospital Colorado had briefly paused treatments for minors earlier this year but resumed hormone-based care following a legal review, clarifying that surgeries on minors had already ended years ago. Meanwhile, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles recently announced it will close its Center for Transyouth Health and Development on July 22, citing legal, financial, and regulatory pressures as the cause.
With the FBI now reviewing internal records and conducting interviews, the long-term impact of these probes remains uncertain. Legal experts suggest that federal charges could follow, and proposed legislation could further expand civil liabilities for providers and institutions involved in trans youth healthcare.
Amid this intensifying landscape, advocacy groups, families, and clinicians are pushing back. They argue that conflating gender-affirming care with harm not only misrepresents the science, it puts lives at risk. Many worry that fear of prosecution will drive providers away from treating trans youth entirely, leading to delayed care, worsening mental health, and preventable tragedies.
This moment marks a profound test for both medical ethics and civil rights. Transgender youth deserve the chance to grow into themselves with safety, support, and dignity. Their families deserve to make informed medical decisions without fearing government retaliation. Healthcare providers should have the freedom to practice evidence-based medicine without facing criminal charges.
As this story develops, TransVitae will continue to center the voices of those directly impacted: transgender youth, their loved ones, and the professionals who refuse to abandon them. In a time of growing legal pressure and moral panic, the call for compassion, truth, and care has never been more urgent.
