The U.S. Justice Department has announced an investigation into over 20 doctors and clinics involved in providing gender transition procedures to minors. This move is part of a broader inquiry into potential healthcare fraud and false statements related to these medical practices. Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the department’s commitment to holding accountable those who, in her words, “mutilated children in the service of a warped ideology.” The Justice Department has not disclosed the identities of the doctors or clinics that have been subpoenaed.

In April, Attorney General Bondi issued a directive for the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute individuals and organizations offering sex change treatments to minors. This directive includes a focus on suspected cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) under the guise of gender-affirming care. Bondi instructed U.S. attorneys nationwide to pursue FGM offenses vigorously. Additionally, the DOJ’s Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch has been tasked with investigating manufacturers and distributors for potentially misbranding drugs like puberty blockers and sex hormones used in these procedures.

The investigation follows an executive order from President Donald Trump during his second administration, which prohibits federal funding or support for gender transition procedures for children. The order also mandates strict enforcement of laws limiting such procedures on minors. President Trump described these medical interventions as irreversible and harmful, asserting that they contribute to a dangerous trend in society.

In a related development, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law banning specific transgender medical treatments for adolescents, ruling 6-3 that the law is not discriminatory. This decision reflects ongoing national debates over transgender rights and medical ethics concerning minors.

The Justice Department’s actions highlight the contentious nature of gender-affirming care for minors in the United States, with significant legal and ethical implications for healthcare providers and policymakers.