The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has recently escalated its campaign to uphold a national prohibition on sex change surgeries for minors. In a public statement, the FBI urged Americans to report any healthcare provider or facility suspected of conducting these operations, marking a significant policy enforcement under the current administration.
The FBI's call for public vigilance was announced through a tweet on June 2, 2025, stating, "Help the FBI protect children. As the Attorney General has made clear, we will protect our children and hold accountable those who mutilate them under the guise of gender-affirming care." Accompanying the post was a hotline and an online portal where individuals could submit tips regarding potential violators.
This enforcement initiative follows an executive order titled "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation," signed by President Donald Trump in January. The directive prohibits federal support, funding, promotion, or assistance for any medical procedures intended to alter the sex of a person under the age of 19. It encompasses both surgical interventions and chemical treatments, such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers, targeting minors.
Attorney General Pam Bondi expressed strong backing for the administration's stance in a Department of Justice (DOJ) memo released in April. Bondi emphasized the DOJ's commitment to legal action against those who partake in performing or facilitating these surgeries for minors. "The Department of Justice will not sit idly by while doctors, motivated by ideology, profits, or both, exploit and mutilate our children," she stated. "Under my watch, the Department will act decisively to protect our children and hold accountable those who mutilate them under the guise of care."
The executive order also authorizes the withdrawal of federal funds from healthcare facilities that defy the ban. This provision may affect public hospitals, university medical centers, and other federally funded clinics, potentially altering the landscape of available care for transgender-identifying youth.
However, the federal mandate faces opposition at the state level. Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown is spearheading a multi-state legal challenge against the executive order, arguing that it infringes upon the Fifth Amendment and unlawfully restricts medical care access for transgender youth.
The U.S. policy reflects international trends, with countries such as the United Kingdom enacting similar prohibitions in response to research indicating potential long-term harm from child sex reassignment surgeries. These global developments have strengthened calls within the United States for increased caution and regulation in the healthcare system.
The FBI's outreach effort represents a strategic move by the administration to involve citizens in the enforcement process, with federal officials asserting that community reporting will aid in identifying violations and support the broader mission to maintain the national ban. As the crackdown continues, both the DOJ and the FBI stand ready to prosecute individuals and institutions that do not adhere to the new legal requirements.
