Biden Administration Accused of Pressuring Transgender Surgery Guidelines for Political Gain

The House Oversight Committee is investigating allegations that the Biden administration pressured a global medical recommendations body to drop age limit guidelines for transgender care, raising concerns about the politicization of the issue.

(Washington, D.C.) - The House Oversight Committee has launched an investigation into allegations that the Biden administration pressured a global medical recommendations body to drop age limit guidelines for transgender care, sparking concerns about the politicization of the issue.

The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is scrutinizing accusations of political interference by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in third-party medical organization recommendations. In a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, the committee expressed its concerns that HHS officials "inappropriately applied pressure" for changes to international pediatric medical standards.

Biden Administration Accused of Pressuring Transgender Surgery Guidelines for Political Gain

The letter, penned by Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), cites a June 2024 New York Times report alleging that the administration pressured the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) to remove its age limit recommendations for transgender youth surgeries. The purpose of this pressure was reportedly to quell potential political opposition to such treatments.

The committee is particularly concerned about the alleged role of HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Rachel Levine, a transgender woman, in leading the pressure campaign. The letter alleges that Levine's staff urged medical experts to lower transgender surgery age recommendations, thereby expanding the pool of children and adolescents eligible for irreversible gender transition procedures.

Biden Administration Accused of Pressuring Transgender Surgery Guidelines for Political Gain

According to McClain, this advocacy for expanding the pool of vulnerable children subjected to life-altering procedures is reprehensible. The letter further expresses outrage at indications that this advocacy may have been driven by political advantage, potentially to appease extremist elements of the administration's base.

The issue of transgender medical care, especially for minors, has been a fiercely debated political topic in recent years. After the Times report, the White House initially stated that it did not support gender-affirming surgery for minors but later amended its response after backlash from progressive groups.

Biden Administration Accused of Pressuring Transgender Surgery Guidelines for Political Gain

The 2021 medical guidelines that are the subject of the investigation initially proposed lowering the acceptable age for transgender hormone therapy to 14, mastectomies to 15, and genital or hysterectomy procedures to 17. However, these limits were subsequently omitted from the final version of the recommendations, according to the Times.

WPATH President Dr. Marci Bowers has denied that the change was politically motivated, asserting that the organization "doesn't look at politics when making a decision." Nonetheless, the subcommittee has demanded that HHS provide all relevant documents and communications by September 10, cautioning the department against obstructing the probe.

"Under your purview, HHS has not cooperated in good faith with the Committee's oversight of HHS and its subagencies," the letter to Becerra states. "It is unacceptable for HHS to interfere with congressional investigations by refusing and delaying cooperation with the Committee's oversight."

The House Oversight Committee's investigation underscores the ongoing debate over the appropriate medical care for transgender individuals, particularly minors. It also raises concerns about the potential politicization of the issue and the Biden administration's alleged attempts to influence medical recommendations for political gain.

Fox News Digital reached out to HHS and the White House for comment but did not receive a response immediately.