Protect Funding and Access to Gender-Affirming Care
Updates
Sept 29, 2025: Trump threatened, via social media, that he wouldn’t negotiate any funding deal that does not include restrictions on transgender rights and health care access. However, neither Republicans or Democrats have raised this issue in their ongoing negotiations to avoid a government shutdown on October 1, nor was it addressed during a meeting with Trump at the White House. House Republicans have already passed their “clean” Continuing Resolution (CR). While this CR promptly failed in the Senate, it will likely get another floor vote on September 30.
Sept 9, 2025: House Republicans are once again attempting to ban funding and access for gender-affirming care. The House appropriations bill for Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education and Related Agencies includes an expanded version of their “Big Beautiful Budget” language. The equivalent Senate appropriations bill does not contain this provision.
July 1, 2025: The Senate has passed H.R. 1 by a vote of 50-51, with J.D. Vance providing the tie-break YES vote. The final version of the bill did not include any provisions banning gender-affirming healthcare.
On May 22, 2025, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act. H.R. 1 contains provisions that endanger life-saving gender-affirming care for Medicaid enrollees and persons receiving care through Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans.
Since 2016, both Medicaid and ACA insurers have been prohibited from categorically excluding gender affirming surgery or hormone therapy from their coverage. H.R. 1 reverses these protections by specifically excluding coverage for gender-affirming care (including surgical and hormonal treatment) from Medicaid coverage. In addition, the bill removes gender-affirming care as an ‘Essential Health Benefit’ required to be provided by ACA policies. These changes in coverage are estimated to affect hundreds of thousands of transgender people throughout the US currently on Medicaid and ACA plans.
The research is clear: gender-affirming care saves lives. Demand your Senators strike this cruel and discriminatory provision in H.R. 1.
Contacts for this topic:
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP].
I’m calling to urge [REP/SEN NAME] to oppose any federal appropriations bill that strips funding and access to gender-affirming care. A widespread ban on federal funding will cause hundreds of thousands of transgender Americans to lose access to life-saving health care, and endanger patients, providers and educational institutions across the country.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
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