The Brian Lehrer Show Federal vs State Over Transgender Care for Youth
Mar 19, 2026
Jack Turban, psychiatrist and author of Free to Be, offers clinical perspective and best practices for transgender care for minors. Giulia Heyward, reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, explains NYU Langone’s clinic closure and New York AG's response. They discuss federal funding threats, legal tensions between state and federal rules, assessment and consent processes, and how hospitals are responding.
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Federal Funding Threats Drive Hospital Decisions
- Federal regulators proposed cutting Medicare/Medicaid funding to hospitals that provide pediatric gender-affirming care, prompting some centers to preemptively close programs.
- Giulia Heyward reported NYU Langone ended its program citing the “current regulatory environment,” illustrating financial pressure motivates institutional decisions.
State Law Can Conflict With Federal Regulatory Moves
- New York's Attorney General cited state human rights law to demand NYU reinstate youth gender care, arguing denying care is discrimination against gender identity.
- The AG gave NYU a March 11 deadline and signaled readiness to enforce, setting up potential legal fight.
Follow Mental Health Evaluation Guidelines First
- Require comprehensive mental health evaluations before medical interventions for minors, following Endocrine Society and WPATH guidelines.
- Assess duration and severity of gender dysphoria, comorbid mental health issues, and family understanding before starting treatment.
