House Oversight Committee Probes HHS Actions on Transgender Care

The House Oversight Committee has initiated an investigation into the Biden administration's alleged pressure on the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) to eliminate age restrictions for transgender surgeries and hormone treatments for minors. Representative Lisa McClain, chair of the subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services, expressed concerns that these actions by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may have been politically motivated. Emails indicate that Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine's office urged WPATH to drop specific age limits, which had previously recommended 14 for hormone therapy and 15 for mastectomies. Critics argue that such irreversible procedures could lead to regret among minors who may not fully understand the implications. The Biden administration maintains that it supports gender-affirming care for minors but does not endorse surgery for those under 18. The investigation seeks documentation to determine if HHS exerted undue influence on medical guidelines for transgender care.