Twenty-five people were arrested Tuesday after demonstrators blockaded the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protesting proposed federal rules that critics say would effectively end access to gender-affirming care for transgender minors nationwide.
More than 50 parents of trans youth and LGBTQ+ activists gathered outside the agency’s building on the final day of the public comment period. Organized by the Gender Liberation Movement, the protest included members of ACT UP New York and ACT UP Pittsburgh. Demonstrators linked arms at the entrance, holding a banner that read “Hands Off Our ‘Mones,” while chanting support for trans youth.
Police with Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department arrested 25 people who refused to clear the doorway.
What the Proposed Rules Would Do
In December, HHS and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services introduced rules that would bar hospitals from offering gender-affirming care to patients under 18 if those institutions wish to continue receiving Medicare or Medicaid funding. The proposal would also prevent federal Medicaid and CHIP dollars from covering that care for minors.
Because most U.S. hospitals rely on federal funding, opponents argue the policy amounts to a national prohibition. The proposal follows executive actions from President Donald Trump aimed at restricting what his administration has called “sex-rejecting procedures” for children.
The rules surfaced after the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Skrmetti, which upheld Tennessee’s ban on certain medical treatments for trans youth. In recent months, several hospitals across the country have paused youth programs amid uncertainty over federal enforcement.
“We Won’t Let This Go Unchallenged”
“We want trans youth and their loving families to know that we see them, we cherish them, and we won’t let these attacks go on without a fight,” said Raquel Willis, co-founder of Gender Liberation Movement, in a statement shared during the demonstration.
Eliel Cruz, also a co-founder, criticized the administration’s approach to Medicaid funding. “Healthcare is a human right,” Cruz said. “Instead of restricting care, we should be expanding it.”
Major medical groups, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Endocrine Society, recognize gender-affirming care as evidence-based treatment when provided according to established guidelines. That care can include counseling, social support, puberty blockers and hormone therapy, depending on a patient’s needs.
A Broader Strategy of Direct Action
Tuesday’s blockade is part of a string of high-visibility actions organized by Gender Liberation Movement since Trump returned to office. Previous protests have included a bathroom sit-in at the U.S. Capitol and a public hormone therapy demonstration outside the Supreme Court.
Organizers framed the HHS action as a final push before the comment window closed, urging supporters to formally submit feedback opposing the rules. “This is our public comment,” one protester shouted as arrests began.
Families of trans youth say the stakes are immediate. Advocacy groups report that many transgender adults have relocated, or are planning to, in search of access to care. Parents at the protest said uncertainty over treatment has already disrupted their children’s routines and mental health support.
HHS has not yet announced when the proposed rules would take effect. Opponents signaled that legal challenges are likely if the policy moves forward.
For now, activists say they are preparing for a prolonged fight, one that extends beyond the steps of a federal building and into courtrooms, clinics and communities nationwide.
