Phoenix Children's Hospital Halts Gender-Affirming Care Indefinitely

Phoenix Children’s Hospital has quietly ceased part of its gender-affirming care program for minors under 19, following an executive order signed by President Trump last week. Parents were informed about the impending changes but lacked details regarding their extent.

A message shared by a parent via the hospital’s patient portal revealed, “Due to the recent executive order issued on January 28, 2025, Phoenix Children’s is indefinitely pausing gender-affirming medical care for children under the age of 19.” Additionally, the hospital indicated plans to collaborate with pharmacists to taper off puberty blockers or hormones for children currently undergoing treatment.

On February 10, two leading doctors at the hospital, Drs. Vinny Chulani and Ashish Patel, communicated in a letter that there would be a “pause” on gender-affirming treatments, specifically targeting puberty blockers and hormone therapies. However, psychiatric and outpatient rehabilitation services are slated to continue unabated.

As of now, Phoenix Children’s Hospital has not publicly acknowledged this decision. Attempts to reach the hospital for clarity on when it would announce compliance with the executive order have gone unanswered.

Local advocacy groups expressed their dismay at this development. Organizations such as the Arizona Trans Parent Youth Organization and the National Association of Social Workers issued a statement, stressing that such policies jeopardize the well-being of transgender youth and obstruct their access to medically necessary care.

Gender-affirming care, including hormone treatments, has been a recognized practice for managing gender dysphoria for decades. Furthermore, puberty blockers have been safely prescribed to cisgender children for various medical conditions, which continue to be permitted.

As Arizona’s leading provider of gender-affirming care, Phoenix Children’s Hospital has previously faced significant backlash, including bomb threats, stemming from disinformation campaigns. The hospital’s response marks a shift in alignment with Trump’s executive order, which is presently being contested in court and remains unenforceable.

Earlier this month, notable children’s hospitals in Los Angeles and New York City discontinued similar youth care services, although New York Attorney General Letitia James mandated state facilities to persist with such services, citing anti-discrimination laws. In contrast, Arizona lacks comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation for LGBTQ+ individuals, despite ongoing efforts by Democrats to enact protective measures in the legislature.