Attorney General Pam Bondi takes aim at medical practitioners and institutions involved in gender-affirming procedures for children through a newly issued Department of Justice memorandum.
According to Breitbart, the memo, exclusively shared with the news outlet, outlines plans to investigate and prosecute medical professionals who perform gender-reassignment procedures on individuals under 19 years of age, while also proposing legislation to create accountability measures for healthcare providers.
The memorandum marks a significant shift in federal policy regarding gender-affirming care, directly contrasting with positions held during the Biden administration.
Bondi's directive aligns with President Trump's executive order titled "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation," which prohibits federal funding for youth gender transitions.
Biden administration legacy faces scrutiny under new directive
Bondi's memo specifically addresses the previous administration's approach to transgender healthcare. Trump's administration has implemented substantial changes to policies regarding gender-affirming care, including directing the National Institutes of Health to investigate potential negative effects of gender transition procedures.
The Department of Justice plans to leverage existing laws against female genital mutilation, which carry penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment per count. Medical practitioners now face increased scrutiny over their involvement in gender-affirming procedures for minors.
These enforcement measures represent a comprehensive approach to restricting access to gender-affirming care for young people, with particular focus on holding medical providers accountable for their practices.
Legislative reforms target medical accountability
Attorney General Bondi provided specific guidance in the memo regarding the DOJ's intended actions:
The Department of Justice will not sit idly by while doctors, motivated by ideology, profits, or both, exploit and mutilate our children. Under my watch, the Department will act decisively to protect our children and hold accountable those who mutilate them under the guise of care. I am putting medical practitioners, hospitals, and clinics on notice: In the United States, it is a felony to perform, attempt to perform, or conspire to perform female genital mutilation ('FGM') on any person under the age of 18. That crime carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years per count.
The Civil Division's Consumer Protection Branch will investigate potential violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by manufacturers and distributors. These investigations will focus on possible misbranding and false claims regarding medications used in gender transitions.
The Office of Legislative Affairs has been tasked with drafting new legislation establishing extended statutes of limitations. This proposed law aims to create retroactive liability for medical professionals involved in gender-affirming procedures.
Pharmaceutical companies face increased oversight
The memo details plans for comprehensive investigations into pharmaceutical companies' marketing practices and claims regarding medications used in gender transitions. These investigations will examine both on-label and off-label use of puberty blockers and hormone treatments.
The Department of Justice's Consumer Protection Branch will lead efforts to identify potential violations in pharmaceutical marketing and distribution. This initiative represents a significant expansion of federal oversight in the gender-affirming care industry.
These investigations could result in substantial penalties for companies found to have made misleading claims about their products' safety and efficacy.
Current administration reinforces policy shift
The memorandum's release follows President Trump's January executive order, which established clear boundaries regarding federal involvement in gender-affirming care. This directive explicitly prevents government funding, sponsorship, or support for youth gender transitions.
Trump's administration has taken additional steps beyond the executive order, including directing scientific research into potential negative outcomes of gender transition procedures. These policy changes reflect a dramatic departure from previous administrative approaches.
The initiatives outlined in Bondi's memo represent the practical implementation of these policy changes across federal law enforcement agencies.
DOJ memo outlines enforcement strategy
Attorney General Pam Bondi's Department of Justice memorandum targets medical practitioners and institutions involved in providing gender-affirming procedures to minors under 19 years old. The directive establishes a framework for investigating and prosecuting healthcare providers while proposing new legislation for extended accountability measures.
The memo represents a significant policy shift in federal approach to transgender healthcare, aligning with President Trump's executive order prohibiting federal support for youth gender transitions. These changes include expanded investigations into pharmaceutical companies, new legislative proposals, and increased scrutiny of medical practitioners involved in gender-affirming procedures.