# Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation

"Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation" is an executive order issued by Donald Trump on January 28, 2025. The executive order stated intent is to protect underage children from ill-informed and dangerous medical treatments such as hormone treatments, surgical genital mutilation, sterilization, and other gender affirming health care. The order states it is the obligation of the United States to it's citizens to protect young children from sex reassignment treatments and therapies until they reach adulthood and can make informed decisions. The order states that in many cases, young children subjected to these treatments are unaware that these procedures can render them sterile and incapable of having children as adults.
The order rejects what it terms "Junk Science" with regard to transgender health care, and the blatant harm done to children by chemical and surgical mutilation under the guise of medical necessity, spurred by guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which lacks scientific integrity.
The order directs the Department of Justice to review Department of Justice enforcement of section 116 of title 18, United States Code, and prioritize enforcement of protections against female genital mutilation, convene States’ Attorneys General and other law enforcement officers to coordinate the enforcement of laws against female genital mutilation across all American States and Territories; prioritize investigations and take appropriate action to end deception of consumers, fraud, and violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by any entity that may be misleading the public about long-term side effects of chemical and surgical mutilation; in consultation with the Congress, work to draft, propose, and promote legislation to enact a private right of action for children and the parents of children whose healthy body parts have been damaged by medical professionals practicing chemical and surgical mutilation, which should include a lengthy statute of limitations; and prioritize investigations and take appropriate action to end child-abusive practices by so-called sanctuary States that facilitate stripping custody from parents who support the healthy development of their own children, including by considering the application of the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act and recognized constitutional rights.
The order also directs the Secretary of HHS, consistent with applicable law, take all appropriate actions to end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children, including regulatory and sub-regulatory actions, which may involve the following laws, programs, issues, or documents: Medicare or Medicaid conditions of participation or conditions for coverage; clinical-abuse or inappropriate-use assessments relevant to State Medicaid programs; mandatory drug use reviews; section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; quality, safety, and oversight memoranda; essential health benefits requirements; and the Eleventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases and other federally funded manuals, including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.
The order also directs the Secretary of HHS shall promptly withdraw HHS’s March 2, 2022, guidance document titled “HHS Notice and Guidance on Gender Affirming Care, Civil Rights and Patient Privacy” and, in consultation with the Attorney General, issue new guidance protecting whistleblowers who take action related to ensuring compliance with this order.