Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) has announced the closure of its Center for Transyouth Health and Development, a significant healthcare program for transgender children and young adults, due to increasing pressures from the Trump administration.
The center, which serves nearly 3,000 patient families, informed them of the impending closure, stating there was ‘no viable alternative’ that would allow the hospital to continue providing specialized care.
Hospital executives characterized the decision, effective July 22, as a painful and significant change that challenges CHLA’s mission and values.
In an internal email sent to staff, hospital leaders noted that the closure was influenced by a thorough assessment of the severe impacts stemming from federal administrative actions and proposed policies evident over the past months.
This announcement comes after a troubling winter when the hospital temporarily paused new patient care, causing distress within the patient community. Many had only just started to feel a sense of relief after the hospital had reversed its ban on care in February after facing protests from families and advocacy groups.
Maxine, a mother of a patient, expressed her dismay and anxiety about the situation. ‘We’re just disappointed and scared and enraged,’ she said, emphasizing the emotional burden of informing her child of this significant change.
In their email, CHLA executives stressed that continuing to operate the center could compromise the hospital’s ability to care for ‘hundreds of thousands’ of other children.
They highlighted concerns raised by federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and Health and Human Services, over potential repercussions for those providing care opposed by the current administration. The hospital cited warnings of possible prosecution and civil action against providers of gender-affirming care (GAC), indicating the dangers faced by the institution under the Trump administration’s policies.
Officials warned that these threats were no longer merely hypothetical, citing a memo from the Attorney General and ongoing reviews by the Department of Health and Human Services. The email noted that there had been solicitations from the FBI for tips to report hospitals and providers offering care contrary to the administration’s directives.
The Transyouth center, one of the oldest and largest in the country, is a vital resource offering puberty blockers, hormones, and surgical procedures for transgender youth, particularly through public insurance programs.
CHLA is uniquely affected by federal policies due to its dependency on public funding, with approximately 40% of pediatric beds in Los Angeles located within the hospital. This reliance on public finances places CHLA in a precarious position as federal funding climate shifts and political pressures mount.
Executives concluded their email by addressing the hospital’s responsibility to navigate the complex regulatory landscape to maintain operations for as many children as possible.
The decision to close the center follows earlier protests in February when the hospital briefly paused hormone therapy for patients under the age of 19. Public outcry, advocacy from LGBTQ+ rights groups, and pressures from the California Department of Justice led to the reversal of this ban, reinforcing the legal obligation of hospitals to provide equal access to healthcare services.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated on February 5 that despite the federal executive orders, California law remained unchanged, emphasizing the obligation of healthcare facilities to offer necessary services.
The internal communication from CHLA also noted that federal pressures have escalated concurrently with reduced support from state initiatives. The widening budget crisis within California, compounded by federal legislative changes and economic uncertainties, has heightened the stakes for the hospital.
Activists are alarmed by the decision to close the center, fearing it sets a precarious precedent.
Maebe Pudlow, a trans nonbinary activist, expressed her frustration, urging CHLA to assume a leadership role against the Trump administration’s state-based actions, highlighting the potential influence CHLA’s decisions may have on other healthcare providers.
Pudlow criticized the timing of the closure, suggesting it distracts from other pressing issues, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the area.
Meanwhile, Maxine, while overwhelmed by the situation, noted a community of support among families coping with these challenges. ‘We’re slowly going underground, underground, underground,’ she stated, reinforcing the need to prepare for ongoing uncertainty while maintaining solidarity among parents and allies in the face of adversity.
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-12/childrens-hospital-of-los-angeles-transgender-care
