The University of Michigan just dropped a bombshell by suspending transgender medical treatments for minors amidst a heated federal investigation.
The Hill reported that on Monday, the university’s medical center, Michigan Medicine, announced it would no longer offer puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones to those under 19, a move spurred by a Department of Justice subpoena issued earlier this summer.
This isn’t just a local story—it’s part of a broader Trump administration push to scrutinize medical providers nationwide, with over 20 doctors and clinics receiving similar subpoenas for offering such treatments to young patients.
The DOJ’s probe targets accusations of promoting controversial transgender procedures, and Michigan Medicine, a heavyweight with over $1 billion in federal funding last year, clearly felt the heat. Let’s just say Uncle Sam’s checkbook comes with strings attached.
Consider the numbers: Michigan reported $1.17 billion in federally sponsored research expenditures for fiscal 2024, including a whopping $734 million in National Institutes of Health grants, ranking it third among U.S. universities. When you’re swimming in that kind of taxpayer cash, a DOJ subpoena isn’t just a polite request—it’s a wake-up call.
The university’s statement was blunt: “In light of that investigation, and given escalating external threats and risks, we will no longer provide gender affirming hormonal therapies.” Well, that’s one way to dodge a legal storm, but it leaves vulnerable families scrambling for answers while bureaucrats sharpen their pencils.
This decision didn’t come out of nowhere; it’s the latest in a string of institutions buckling under federal pressure. Kaiser Permanente made headlines earlier by ending sex-change operations for minors, and the Gender Development Program at Children’s National Hospital followed suit with similar suspensions.
The Trump administration’s DOJ isn’t mincing words, accusing the previous Biden-led government of pushing medical transitioning for minors with questionable incentives.
According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Biden-era Department of Health and Human Services pressured global health groups to drop age limits for reassignment surgeries in 2022 guidelines. That’s a bold claim—sounds like ideology might have outpaced evidence.
Bondi’s memo didn’t stop there, pointing out that “little to no empirical data” backs the long-term safety of puberty blockers and hormones. If true, that’s a gut punch to the progressive narrative that these treatments are settled science. Families deserve better than guesswork when it comes to irreversible decisions.
The Attorney General’s office also took a swipe at Biden’s spending, alleging over $8 million in taxpayer funds went to transgender hormone studies—on mice, no less.
If we’re shelling out millions for rodent research while kids face unproven treatments, maybe it’s time to rethink our priorities. That’s not compassion; it’s a science fair gone wrong.
Even the Department of Health and Human Services, now under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., released a review this summer highlighting “serious concerns” about the risks of puberty treatments and cross-sex hormones for children.
The report flagged irreversible harms like infertility and found only weak evidence of benefits. That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for the status quo.
Interestingly, the HHS noted that health authorities in countries like the United Kingdom have already restricted transgender services due to their experimental nature and potential for harm. When even progressive nations are hitting the brakes, it’s hard to argue this is just a partisan witch hunt.
Back to Michigan Medicine—its decision reflects a growing caution among providers who once championed these treatments. With federal investigators breathing down their necks, who can blame them for stepping back?
The fallout for transgender-identifying minors and their families is real, as access to these treatments dwindles under scrutiny.
While some may see this as a necessary correction to untested medical practices, others are left feeling abandoned by a system caught in political crossfire.