As Trump blocks Medicaid funds, one trans teen's mom asks: What's next?
The Trump administration has finalized a policy prohibiting the use of federal Medicaid funds for gender-affirming care for minors. Families affected by the rule express concern over the loss of essential healthcare access for transgender youth.
Why it matters
This policy change significantly impacts healthcare access for a vulnerable demographic and reflects broader political debates regarding gender-affirming care in the U.S.
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The Trump administration finalized a new health care policy that has been in the works for months: No federal dollars can be used to pay for gender-affirming care for children covered by Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Plan.
"Every time you wake up, it feels like — what's going to happen next?" says the mother who asked NPR to identify her by her initials, A.W. "What else are they going to take away from us and our kids, to keep them thriving?"
A.W., who is the parent of a transgender teenager, asked not to use her full name because she fears her family could be targeted or her children could be taken away by the federal administration.
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