Jan 5
RFK Jr.'s HHS Faces Backlash Over Seattle Children's Hospital Gender Care Scrutiny Amid Regional Office Closures
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has launched an investigation into Seattle Children's Hospital over its gender-affirming care programs for transgender youth. This action forms part of broader HHS initiatives announced by Kennedy and advisor Dr. Mehmet Oz to restrict such care nationwide, raising alarms among healthcare providers and LGBTQ+ organizations. Seattle Children's Hospital, a leading pediatric facility, provides multidisciplinary gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy and mental health support tailored to transgender and nonbinary youth, in line with standards from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health .
The probe stems from HHS's review of federal funding allocation to hospitals offering gender-affirming treatments, with Seattle Children's identified due to its prominent role in serving transgender patients in the Pacific Northwest. Hospital officials have confirmed receipt of a formal inquiry from HHS but emphasized that their programs adhere to evidence-based medical guidelines and prioritize patient safety. "We remain committed to providing compassionate, affirming care to all children, including transgender youth, based on the best available science," a hospital spokesperson stated.
Compounding the investigation, HHS closed five of its ten regional offices on April 1, 2025, including Region 10 in Seattle, which directly oversaw health services in Washington state and the Pacific territories. These closures affected offices in Boston, New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle, resulting in the termination of thousands of staff members responsible for monitoring Medicare, Medicaid, child welfare, and nursing home safety across 22 states, five territories, and three Compact of Free Association countries—impacting 166 million people.
Members of Congress, including Rep. Jimmy Gomez, sent a letter to Secretary Kennedy on April 8, 2025, demanding details on the closures' rationale, staff notifications, and impacts on local oversight. The letter highlights how regional offices ensure compliance with federal health laws, root out fraud in programs like Medicaid, and support state-specific needs, including those of transgender communities relying on these services for care coordination. "Eliminating these functions in half of the country will harm health and safety of local communities," the bipartisan group of lawmakers wrote.
For transgender youth at Seattle Children's, the timing is particularly troubling. The hospital's Gender Clinic has served hundreds of patients annually, offering puberty blockers and counseling shown in studies to reduce suicide risk and improve mental health outcomes for transgender individuals. With the Seattle regional office shuttered, advocates worry about diminished federal support for enforcing anti-discrimination protections under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits bias based on gender identity in healthcare.
LGBTQ+ organizations have condemned the HHS actions as an assault on transgender healthcare access. GLAAD noted that gender-affirming care is endorsed by major medical bodies like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Endocrine Society, with restrictions potentially violating patients' rights. "Transgender youth deserve affirming care from qualified providers, not politically motivated interference," GLAAD spokesperson said.
The Human Rights Campaign echoed these sentiments, pointing to the regional closures as exacerbating vulnerabilities for LGBTQ+ families dependent on HHS-funded programs. In Washington state, where Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee has championed transgender rights, the loss of local HHS presence could delay responses to complaints about care denials or discrimination.
Kennedy's HHS has framed its gender care proposals as protecting children from "irreversible" treatments, though critics cite a lack of new evidence overturning prior consensus. Dr. Oz, involved in the announcements, has publicly supported pausing certain interventions until age 18. Meanwhile, Seattle Children's continues operations, vowing to defend its practices in court if needed.
This convergence of events underscores tensions between federal policy shifts and local healthcare delivery, with transgender communities bracing for reduced access. As Congress presses for answers by April 21, 2025, the outcome could reshape gender-affirming care nationwide.
