A Pattern of Policy: How Administrative Actions Seem to Target Transgender Americans

Recent weeks and months have seen a series of policy decisions and proposals emanating from the current administration that, taken together, suggest a pattern of specifically targeting the needs and rights of transgender Americans, particularly young people. From healthcare access and crisis support to housing discrimination and civil rights definitions, these actions often align with frameworks like Project 2025 and run counter to established medical and legal precedents, raising significant concerns among advocates and affected communities across the country.  

Undermining Access to Care: Gender-Affirming Treatment and Crisis Support

A focal point of these actions is gender-affirming care (GAC) for minors. On January 28, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Protecting Children From Chemical And Surgical Mutilation,” declaring it US policy not to support “gender transition” for anyone under 19. This order directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to review best practices.  

On May 1, 2025, HHS released that roughly 400-page review, “Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria Review of Evidence and Best Practices.” While framed as a scientific review, the report broadly disavows established medical GAC options like puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors. It described evidence for their benefit as “very weak” while citing “significant risks,” despite acknowledging finding only “sparse” evidence of harm in the studies it analyzed. Instead, the report advocates for behavioral therapy, specifically mentioning “exploratory therapy.”  

Critics, including The Trevor Project, Lambda Legal, and Fenway Health, were swift to condemn the report. They argue it ignores decades of research showing GAC improves mental health and reduces suicidality among trans youth, misrepresents the science, and promotes the discredited and harmful practice of conversion therapy under a different name. Research cited by these groups indicates that youth subjected to conversion therapy are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide. The report also clashes with the positions of nearly every major US medical association, which support access to age-appropriate GAC based on extensive clinical evidence. Related actions include HHS reportedly eliminating 215 federal grants totaling $477 million for GAC research and education since the January executive order.  

Beyond direct medical care, vital support systems are also facing cuts. A leaked budget proposal revealed plans to eliminate all federal funding, previously estimated at around $50 million, for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth, effective October 1, 2025. Launched nationwide in 2022, this service allows young people (up to age 25) to connect with counselors specifically trained in LGBTQ+ issues by pressing “3” or texting “PRIDE.” According to The Trevor Project, which handles nearly half the volume, the service has received over 1.2 million contacts since its inception. Given that research consistently shows LGBTQ+ youth are over four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers, advocates warn that removing this tailored, trusted resource could have devastating consequences.  

Targeting Housing and Shelter Access

The administration’s focus extends critically into housing. Under Secretary Scott Turner, a Trump appointee, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has moved quickly to dismantle protections for transgender individuals. A key target is the Obama-era Equal Access Rule (enacted 2012, expanded 2016), which clarified that the Fair Housing Act’s prohibition on sex discrimination includes discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, ensuring access to HUD-funded programs and shelters.  

In February 2025, Secretary Turner announced HUD was halting enforcement of the Equal Access Rule, stating it was time to “get rid of all the far-left gender ideology.” HUD is now reportedly planning unspecified revisions to the rule, raising fears it could forbid shelters from accommodating trans individuals altogether.  

Furthermore, according to HUD attorneys cited by the AP, the agency’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity has been instructed to pause and then close pending gender identity discrimination complaints, citing a “lack of jurisdiction” based on Trump’s executive order defining sex as solely male or female at birth. The exact number of dropped cases hasn’t been disclosed. Tazz Webster, a trans man who faced harassment and alleged illegal eviction from a HUD-subsidized St. Louis apartment, had his complaint abruptly closed in February 2025 after a two-year investigation, citing the EO. Similarly, Bea Gonzalez, a trans man denied entry with his children to a HUD-funded domestic violence shelter, had his 2.5-year investigation dropped in March 2025. A HUD spokesperson confirmed the agency was implementing the EO to restore “biological truth.”

Rolling Back Rights & Recognition: Project 2025 in Action

Many of these administrative actions across different agencies track closely with the policy proposals outlined in Project 2025. Analysis by organizations like the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) and the Interfaith Alliance highlight several examples already implemented or initiated that impact LGBTQ+ people, particularly the trans community:

• Redefining “Sex”: An executive order on day one (EO 14168) reportedly mandated defining sex solely based on biology assigned at birth across the government, a foundation cited by HUD for its policy changes.  
• Weakening Title IX: The administration moved to rescind Biden-era guidance that protected LGBTQ+ students from discrimination under Title IX, narrowing its scope.  
• Dismantling DEI: Executive orders targeted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs across the federal government (EO 14151) and dissolved bodies like the Gender Policy Council (EO 14148).  
• Military Ban: Transgender individuals have again been barred from military service, and funding for GAC for service members and veterans is targeted (EO 14183).
• Adoption: An executive order prioritizing faith-based adoption agencies (EO 13279) potentially allows discrimination against LGBTQ+ prospective parents.

Critics argue these moves represent a coordinated effort to roll back LGBTQ+ rights, specifically targeting transgender people to enforce traditional gender roles and using “gender ideology” as justification for broader policy changes.

Broader Impacts and Confusion

The consequences extend beyond individual complaint closures. Advocates note high rates of homelessness among transgender people (nearly one-third report experiencing it) and frequent discrimination in shelters (70% reported harassment, assault, or ejection in a 2015 survey). The rollback of the Equal Access Rule and the resulting uncertainty risk are making shelters less welcoming, precisely when stable housing is critical. “Our protections can’t be a ping-pong ball that changes every four years,” stated Seran Gee of Advocates for Trans Equality.  

The situation is further complicated by confusing language in new HUD contracts, which reportedly forbid nonprofits from promoting “gender ideology” while simultaneously requiring compliance with anti-discrimination laws. This leaves organizations struggling to interpret the requirements, with some, like Homeward NYC, modifying website language (“LGBTQ+ affirming” instead of “serving”), hoping to avoid becoming targets. Others, like My Sistah’s House in Memphis, are seeking non-federal funds to continue serving the community without ambiguity. This climate can pressure organizations to self-censor or potentially limit services to vulnerable populations.  

Viewed collectively, the administration’s recent actions – the HHS report questioning GAC, the proposed defunding of the LGBTQ+ 988 line, the rollback of HUD protections under the Equal Access Rule, the closure of discrimination complaints, and the series of executive orders aligning with Project 2025’s goals – paint a picture of policies that appear to specifically target the well-being and rights of transgender individuals. These measures stand in contrast to prevailing medical and legal interpretations and raise serious concerns about their potential impact on an already vulnerable population facing heightened risks of discrimination, homelessness, and negative health outcomes. Tazz Webster, still homeless nearly three years after losing his apartment, perhaps summed up the fear: “If you legalize them to hating, then they feel like they have a right.”

If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services. Trans Lifeline, designed for transgender or gender-nonconforming people, can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The lifeline also provides resources to help with other crises, such as domestic violence situations. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 24 and younger), can be reached at (866) 488-7386. Users can also access chat services at TheTrevorProject.org/Help or text START to 678678.