Mount Sinai, one of the largest hospitals in New York City, has agreed to stop providing sex reassignment procedures to minors following a settlement with the Trump administration’s Department of Justice. The agreement includes a monetary penalty and requires the hospital to dedicate $2 million to free medical care for individuals who suffered harmful consequences from transgender treatments received as children.
The settlement concludes a Justice Department investigation into potential violations of federal health care laws, including the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the False Claims Act. The investigation examined whether hospitals used false diagnosis codes to obtain payment from federal programs and private insurers for pediatric gender transition services. Mount Sinai stated that the settlement reflects its commitment to safeguarding patient confidential information and protecting its clinicians.
What the Right Is Saying
Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the Department of Justice is committed to holding accountable medical providers that violate federal law and endanger children through so-called gender-affirming care. He noted that the agreement puts an end to these practices at Mount Sinai and provides meaningful relief for individuals who have already suffered harm.
Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Civil Division described the procedures as a "medical scandal" and characterized them as "sex-rejecting" and "discredited." Shumate emphasized that while the department is grateful for resolutions that end these practices, it will continue its pursuit of justice for victims left behind by such treatments. The Trump administration has made curbing these procedures for minors a top priority, citing concerns over chemical and surgical interventions on children.
What the Left Is Saying
Critics of the federal intervention argue that gender-affirming care is medically necessary and supported by major medical associations, including the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). Mount Sinai’s Institute for Advanced Medicine previously reported serving 4,931 transgender and gender-diverse patients in 2025, indicating a significant volume of care that supporters say is now disrupted.
The hospital’s decision to settle follows a pattern of federal pressure on institutions that align with WPATH guidelines, which the Trump administration has moved to rescind or amend. Dr. Joshua Safer, executive director of the Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery, has co-authored WPATH guidelines, linking the hospital’s clinical protocols directly to the standards now under federal scrutiny.
What the Numbers Show
In 2025, Mount Sinai’s Institute for Advanced Medicine reported that its providers saw 4,931 transgender and gender-diverse patients. The exact number of minors receiving sex reassignment procedures has not been publicly disclosed. The settlement requires Mount Sinai to allocate $2 million specifically for free medical care for those harmed by prior treatments.
This is not an isolated incident. In recent months, the Justice Department has reached similar agreements with Texas Children's Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and Connecticut Children's Hospital to halt youth transgender procedures. The federal investigation targets potential fraudulent billing practices, including the use of false diagnosis codes to secure payments from federal health care programs.
The Bottom Line
The settlement marks a significant shift in how major urban hospitals provide gender-affirming care to minors under the current federal administration. While Mount Sinai has not disclosed the specific details of the monetary penalty, the agreement signals a broader enforcement trend by the DOJ against institutions following WPATH guidelines. The WPATH itself is currently facing lawsuits from the Federal Trade Commission and several states alleging false and unsubstantiated claims about the safety and necessity of pediatric medical-transition services.
The federal government continues to investigate other hospitals providing these procedures to minors. The outcome of the pending lawsuits against WPATH and the ongoing DOJ investigations will likely determine the future landscape of pediatric gender care in the United States. Mount Sinai acknowledged the complexity of the settlement but maintained that it remained cooperative and solution-driven throughout the investigation.