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New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a stern warning to hospitals across the state, threatening legal consequences if they adhere to President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting transgender procedures for minors.

The presidential directive mandates that all federal agencies ensure hospitals receiving federal grants discontinue what he termed “chemical and surgical mutilation of children.” This sweeping order encompasses Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and other federally-linked healthcare programs.

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, several medical institutions have already responded to the order by halting or suspending these procedures, including Denver Health, VCU Health, and Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. NYU Langone, a prominent New York medical center, has also joined this list, as reported by The New York Times.

James’s letter explicitly warns that hospitals could face state law violations for withholding such procedures from transgender-identifying youth.

“Electing to refuse services to a class of individuals based on their protected status, such as withholding the availability of services from transgender individuals based on their gender identity or their diagnosis of gender dysphoria, while offering such services to cisgender individuals, is discrimination under New York law,” James threatened.

Her directive stands firm regardless of federal funding considerations, creating a complex legal predicament for healthcare facilities caught between federal and state mandates.

This situation extends beyond administrative confusion, touching on deeply controversial medical practices. These procedures permanently alter healthy children’s bodies, potentially leading to lifelong medical dependencies and increased health risks.

The November elections demonstrated clear public opposition to such practices. Trump’s executive order aligns with this voter sentiment by targeting what many consider the most extreme aspect of transgender ideology – pediatric medical transitions.

James’s response exemplifies a growing pattern of Democratic officials doubling down on controversial positions, even to the point of challenging presidential executive orders. While this stance may satisfy certain ideological goals, it potentially undermines their political standing among mainstream voters who have expressed clear opposition to such policies.

The controversy continues to intensify as both sides remain firmly entrenched in their positions, though recent electoral results suggest diminishing public support for such aggressive stances on youth gender transitions.