Executive Order 14187

Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation

Signed January 28, 2025, printed at 90 FR 8771. 9 sections of substance, 1,461 words.

In plain English

This order is about care for children who question their sex. It bars federal money for drugs and surgery for them.

Sec. 1. Policy and Purpose

Across the country today, medical professionals are maiming and sterilizing a growing number of impressionable children under the radical and false claim that adults can change a child's sex through a series of irreversible medical interventions. This dangerous trend will be a stain on our Nation's history, and it must end. Countless children soon regret that they have been mutilated and begin to grasp the horrifying tragedy that they will never be able to conceive children of their own or nurture their children through breastfeeding. Moreover, these vulnerable youths' medical bills may rise throughout their lifetimes, as they are often trapped with lifelong medical complications, a losing war with their own bodies, and, tragically, sterilization. Accordingly, it is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ``transition''

In plain English

This sets out the case the order makes. It says doctors are altering children's bodies. It calls the claim behind that false. It says many later regret it. It names loss of the ability to have children. It says lifelong medical costs may follow. It says federal money will not support it.

Sec. 2. Definitions

For the purposes of this order: (a) The term ``child'' or ``children'' means an individual or individuals under 19 years of age. (b) The term ``pediatric'' means relating to the medical care of a child. (c) The phrase ``chemical and surgical mutilation'' means the use of puberty blockers, including GnRH agonists and other interventions, to delay the onset or progression of normally timed puberty in an individual who does not identify as his or her sex; the use of sex hormones, such as androgen blockers, estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone, to align an individual's physical appearance with an identity that differs from his or her sex; and surgical procedures that attempt to transform an individual's physical appearance to align with an identity that differs from his or her sex or that attempt to alter or remove an individual's sexual organs to minimize or destroy their natural

In plain English

This defines the terms. A child means anyone under 19. Pediatric means care given to a child. The order groups several treatments under one phrase. Those are puberty blockers and sex hormones. Surgery to change the body is included. So is surgery on the sex organs.

Sec. 3. Ending Reliance on Junk Science

(a) The blatant harm done to children by chemical and surgical mutilation cloaks itself in medical necessity, spurred by guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which lacks scientific integrity. In light of the scientific concerns with the WPATH guidance: (i) agencies shall rescind or amend all policies that rely on WPATH guidance, including WPATH's ``Standards of Care Version 8''; and (ii) within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall publish a review of the existing literature on best practices for promoting the health of children who assert gender dysphoria, rapid-onset gender dysphoria, or other identity-based confusion. (b) The Secretary of HHS, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, shall use all available methods to increase the quality of data to guide practices for improving

In plain English

This targets one set of care guidelines. It says the group behind them lacks rigor. Agencies must drop policies that rely on them. That includes a named standard of care. Within 90 days the health agency must publish a review. The review covers the evidence on treating such children.

Sec. 4. Defunding Chemical and Surgical Mutilation

The head of each executive department or agency (agency) that provides research or education grants to medical institutions, including medical schools and hospitals, shall, consistent with applicable law and in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, immediately take appropriate steps to ensure that institutions receiving Federal research or education grants end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children.

In plain English

This is about federal grants. It covers agencies that fund research or teaching. Medical schools and hospitals are named. Those bodies must stop the treatments this order describes. Agency heads must act at once. The budget office helps them do it.

Sec. 5. Additional Directives to the Secretary of HHS

(a) The Secretary of HHS shall, consistent with applicable law, take all appropriate actions to end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children, including regulatory and sub-regulatory actions, which may involve the following laws, programs, issues, or documents: (i) Medicare or Medicaid conditions of participation or conditions for coverage; (ii) clinical-abuse or inappropriate-use assessments relevant to State Medicaid programs; (iii) mandatory drug use reviews; (iv) section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; (v) quality, safety, and oversight memoranda; (vi) essential health benefits requirements; and (vii) the Eleventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases and other federally funded manuals, including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. (b) The Secretary of HHS shall promptly withdraw HHS's March 2,

In plain English

This gives tasks to the health agency. It must use its rules to end that care. Medicare and Medicaid terms are named. So are drug use reviews and a health law clause. Safety memoranda and benefit rules are covered. A March 2022 guidance document must be withdrawn.

Sec. 6. TRICARE

The Department of Defense provides health insurance, through TRICARE, to nearly 2 million individuals under the age of 18. As appropriate and consistent with applicable law, the Secretary of Defense shall commence a rulemaking or sub-regulatory action to exclude chemical and surgical mutilation of children from TRICARE coverage and amend the TRICARE provider handbook to exclude chemical and surgical mutilation of children.

In plain English

This is about the military health plan. That plan covers nearly 2 million young people. Defense must start a rulemaking. It may act through guidance instead. The aim is to drop that care from cover. The provider handbook must be changed to match.

Sec. 7. Requirements for Insurance Carriers

The Director of the Office of Personnel Management, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, shall: (a) include provisions in the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) and Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) programs call letter for the 2026 Plan Year specifying that eligible carriers, including the Foreign Service Benefit Plan, will exclude coverage for pediatric transgender surgeries or hormone treatments; and (b) negotiate to obtain appropriate corresponding reductions in FEHB and PSHB premiums.

In plain English

This is about federal worker health plans. The staffing office must write terms for 2026. Carriers must drop that care for young people. That covers surgery and hormone treatment. The plan for foreign service staff is named. Premiums are to be cut to match.

Sec. 8. Directives to the Department of Justice

The Attorney General shall: (a) review Department of Justice enforcement of section 116 of title 18, United States Code, and prioritize enforcement of protections against female genital mutilation; (b) convene States' Attorneys General and other law enforcement officers to coordinate the enforcement of laws against female genital mutilation across all American States and Territories; (c) prioritize investigations and take appropriate action to end deception of consumers, fraud, and violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by any entity that may be misleading the public about long- term side effects of chemical and surgical mutilation; [[Page 8773]] (d) in consultation with the Congress, work to draft, propose, and promote legislation to enact a private right of action for children and the parents of children whose healthy body parts have been damaged by medical professionals

In plain English

This gives tasks to the Justice Department. It must press cases on the cutting of girls. It must bring state law officers together on that. It must also look at claims made by clinics. The test is whether they hid long term effects. It must work with Congress on a right to sue.

Sec. 9. Enforcing Adequate Progress

Within 60 days of the date of this order, the heads of agencies with responsibilities under this order shall submit a single, combined report to the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, detailing progress in implementing this order and a timeline for future action. The Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy shall regularly convene the heads of agencies with responsibilities under this order (or their designees) to coordinate and prepare for this submission.

In plain English

This asks for one joint report in 60 days. Every agency with a task here takes part. It must show progress and a timeline. A White House aide receives it. That aide must call the agencies together often. Those meetings prepare the report.

Sec. 10. Severability

Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.

If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstances, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of any of its other provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

In plain English

This is the standard severability clause. If a court strikes down part of the order, the rest still stands.

Sec. 11. General Provisions

Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, January 28, 2025. [FR Doc. 2025-02194 Filed 1-31-25; 8:45 am] Billing code 3395-F4-P </pre></body> </html>

In plain English

This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.

How this order is quoted

Each section is quoted as the order prints it, under its own number and heading. Executive orders are United States government works and are not under copyright. Long sections are cut at a sentence and the whole order is a click away.