A new political storm is brewing in Washington, and President Donald Trump is at the center of it. With his latest legislative push, Trump has reignited a fierce debate over taxpayer funding, transgender rights, and the future of Medicaid coverage.
President Trump’s ambitious “one big, beautiful, bill” has passed the House of Representatives by the slimmest of margins and now heads to the Senate. According to Breitbart News, the bill would strip Medicaid funding for all gender transition procedures, ending coverage for treatments ranging from puberty blockers to hormone therapy and surgery.
The measure, which originally focused on banning Medicaid coverage for minors, was amended late Wednesday to remove age restrictions. Now, the bill targets all Medicaid recipients seeking gender transition treatments, regardless of age. Supporters hail the move as a fiscal and cultural victory, while critics argue it’s a direct attack on a vulnerable population.
The House passed President Trump’s reconciliation budget by a razor-thin 215-214-1 vote early Thursday morning, demonstrating just how contentious the issue has become. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle expressed deep emotions, with the bill’s substance and scope evolving until the last minute.
Initially, the measure sought to prohibit Medicaid from covering “gender transition procedures” only for minors. But a late-night amendment struck the words “minors” and “under 18 years of age,” sweeping all adults under the new regulations as well. This turn of events widened the bill’s impact significantly, raising the stakes for both its supporters and opponents.
A 2023 study cited in the debate found that 25 percent of gender-affirming surgeries in the United States were paid for by Medicaid, with over 12,000 out of 48,019 patients relying on the program. That figure underscores just how many Americans could be affected if the bill becomes law.
Supporters of Trump’s bill see it as a major victory for taxpayers and traditional values. Groups like the American Principles Project have praised the measure, arguing that taxpayer dollars should not be spent on what they call controversial medical procedures.
Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project, applauded the bill’s passage, referencing public opinion on the use of government funds for gender transition treatments. He argued that most Americans are uncomfortable with taxpayer-funded gender-affirming care, especially for procedures involving children.
Proponents also argue that the measure will restore fiscal sanity to Medicaid, a program that has faced mounting costs in recent years. They view the bill as a necessary step to ensure government health programs focus on what they see as core medical needs.
On the other side, critics of the bill warn of dire consequences for thousands of Americans. Advocacy groups and medical professionals have argued that gender-affirming care is essential for transgender individuals and that stripping Medicaid coverage could lead to increased suffering and health disparities. Transgender comedian Stacy Cay was among those who spoke out forcefully, calling the move an “attempt of genocide.”
Many in the medical community have echoed these concerns, pointing to studies that show improved mental health outcomes for transgender individuals who can access gender transition care. They fear that eliminating Medicaid funding will make these treatments financially impossible for low-income Americans.
Opponents also criticize the decision to remove age restrictions from the bill, claiming that it disproportionately impacts adults who rely on Medicaid for their healthcare needs and who have no other options for covering these costly procedures.
As the bill heads to the Senate, both sides are preparing for a high-stakes showdown. Some senators have already signaled concerns about the impact on rural and low-income Americans, especially those living in red states where Medicaid is a critical healthcare lifeline.
In a statement, American Principles Project’s Terry Schilling praised the House version and urged senators to maintain its core provisions. Meanwhile, advocacy groups are mobilizing supporters, warning that the bill could set a precedent for further restrictions on transgender healthcare.
Senate Republicans are expected to push for swift passage, while Democrats and some moderates may seek amendments or attempt to block the bill entirely. With the country watching closely, the Senate’s decision could shape the national conversation on healthcare, gender, and government spending for years to come.
