Hartford — Connecticut Children’s Hospital announced Thursday that it has agreed to cease providing gender-affirming medical care to patients under 18 as part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Details of the settlement
The hospital — the third pediatric institution in the country reported to reach such an agreement with the DOJ — has agreed not to administer puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones to minors and will not perform gender-related surgeries on patients under 18. The settlement also includes a monetary penalty and a separate funding commitment.
| Action | Settlement detail |
|---|---|
| Medical treatments | Puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones prohibited for patients under 18 |
| Surgeries | No gender-affirming surgeries on minors |
| Monetary commitment | $500,000 dedicated to medical care for those described by the DOJ as harmed by gender-affirming care |
The U.S. Department of Justice said the action comes amid federal efforts to restrict gender-affirming care for young people. Last year, the administration issued an executive order aiming to end gender-affirming care for patients under 19 nationwide and warned hospitals that noncompliance could jeopardize federal funding.
Local context and the hospital’s response
Connecticut Children’s had already been winding down its youth gender care program for about a year under pressure from the federal government. In its announcement, the hospital confirmed the settlement and noted its terms without releasing detailed internal documentation to the public at the time of the statement.
"the harmful consequences of gender-affirming care"
The DOJ described the dedicated $500,000 as intended to support medical care for individuals living with what it called the "harmful consequences of gender-affirming care." The settlement requires Connecticut Children’s to allocate that funding to related medical services.
Nationwide backdrop and research cited
Nationally, the debate over pediatric gender-affirming care has been the subject of legal, political and medical scrutiny. A 2024 Harvard study published in JAMA Pediatrics, cited in reporting around the settlement, found that fewer than 0.1 percent of children ages 8 to 17 with private insurance received puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones from 2018 through 2022; the study also reported no surgeries among children 12 and under during that period.
Those figures have been used by both supporters and opponents of gender-affirming care to argue either for the rarity and careful use of such treatments or to question their appropriateness for minors. Medical associations and advocacy groups have urged individualized, evidence-based approaches while also emphasizing mental health support for transgender and gender-diverse youth.
What this means for families and providers
For families currently receiving care through Connecticut Children’s, the settlement effectively ends the hospital as a local source for hormone therapies and surgical interventions for minors. The hospital had already curtailed its program, but the settlement formalizes the prohibition and establishes the financial component.
- Patients under 18 will no longer receive puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones at Connecticut Children’s.
- Gender-affirming surgeries on minors will not be performed at the hospital.
- The hospital will allocate $500,000 for medical care related to what the DOJ described as harmful outcomes.
Clinicians and families looking for alternatives must consult other providers, which may include out-of-state centers, private practitioners, or community-based mental health services. The settlement increases pressure on state health systems and community clinicians to clarify available services for transgender and gender-diverse youth and their families.
Political and legal implications
The settlement adds to a series of federal actions and legal disputes over transgender health policy that have unfolded across the country. Hospitals and health systems face complex choices about compliance with federal directives, professional medical guidelines and state laws. The broader legal landscape remains fluid, with further litigation and policy changes possible.
Connecticut Children’s confirmed its decision in a brief statement Thursday morning but did not provide extensive public comment beyond acknowledging the settlement's terms. Federal officials have framed such agreements as enforcing a nationwide policy; advocates for transgender youth have criticized the federal approach and warned of consequences for access to care and well-being.
As this story develops, families and clinicians in Connecticut will be monitoring how the settlement is implemented and what it means for access to services, continuity of care and funding for medical needs tied to the administration’s priorities.
Marcus Feldman is the state correspondent for WE NEWS covering health and public policy.
