On Monday evening, the University of Michigan’s hospital system, Michigan Medicine, announced it would no longer provide gender-affirming medical care to patients under the age of 19. The move, which takes effect immediately, halts the prescription of hormonal therapies and puberty blockers for transgender children and teens—a decision that has triggered a wave of concern, protest, and uncertainty across Michigan and beyond.
Michigan Medicine attributed its decision to a federal subpoena and what it called "escalating external threats and risks," including unprecedented legal and regulatory scrutiny. In a statement released to the public, hospital officials said, "We recognize the gravity and impact of this decision for our patients and our community. We are working closely with all those impacted, and we will continuously support the well-being of our patients, their families and our teams." According to reporting by local outlets, the hospital clarified that while hormonal interventions would cease, it would continue to offer behavioral health and social work consultations for transgender youth.
The announcement comes amid a broader national crackdown on gender-affirming care for minors. As reported by local Ann Arbor media and confirmed by Michigan Medicine, the U.S. Department of Justice—under the administration of President Donald Trump—initiated an investigation in July 2025, sending more than 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics accused of performing transgender medical procedures on children. The federal probe, which claims to target health care fraud and false statements, has cast a long shadow over health providers across the country.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi, speaking on behalf of the Department of Justice, did not mince words: "Medical professionals and organizations that mutilated children in the service of a warped ideology will be held accountable by this Department of Justice." The department has not specified which clinics or providers were subpoenaed, leaving many in the medical community anxious about their legal exposure and future ability to provide care.
The University of Michigan’s decision has drawn sharp rebuke from Michigan’s own attorney general, who issued a public warning to the university on Tuesday. The attorney general's office stated it was "considering all of our options" in response to the hospital’s abrupt halt of care, according to reporting by Law360. The statement underscored the high stakes for transgender youth and the broader LGBTQ+ community, as well as the potential for legal action or policy interventions by the state.
For families and advocates on the ground, the news was both devastating and, sadly, not surprising. Joe Halsch, executive director of the Jim Toy Community Center in Washtenaw County—a regional LGBTQ+ support organization—told local reporters that Michigan Medicine’s move mirrored similar decisions by hospitals nationwide. "Trans people aren’t just going to disappear with these decisions," Halsch said. "Trans people aren’t going to be erased from the history books, from our neighborhoods and in our communities." He emphasized that medical providers at Michigan Medicine had been responsive to the concerns of parents of transgender children, but that the new policy has left many scrambling to find alternative care.
Halsch also voiced fears that the crackdown could soon extend to transgender adults. "Nobody in the LGBTQ community that I’ve talked to feels safe, regardless of how they identify and who they are," he said. "And if people are feeling safe or feeling like it doesn’t affect them, I would encourage them to talk to a few more people." Some families and patients, he noted, are already strategizing with their providers to ensure continuity of care, even as the regulatory picture grows more complicated.
Michigan Medicine, for its part, has stressed that it does not provide surgical therapies for minors—a point made clear in its public communications. The hospital’s decision affects only hormonal and puberty-blocking medications for those under 19, while behavioral health and social work support will continue. Nevertheless, for many transgender youth and their families, the loss of access to gender-affirming medical care represents a profound setback.
The policy shift at the University of Michigan comes at a time when hospitals and clinics across the United States are facing mounting legal and political pressure over their treatment of transgender minors. According to the Ann Arbor News, members of the LGBTQ community have watched as similar services have been rolled back in other states, often in response to new laws or aggressive enforcement actions by federal and state authorities.
Adding to the university’s legal troubles, the University of Michigan is also under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education. The probe centers on allegations that scholarships awarded to immigrant or undocumented students discriminate against American-born students. While unrelated to the issue of gender-affirming care, the investigation has further complicated the university’s relationship with federal regulators and heightened scrutiny of its policies.
The abrupt end to gender-affirming care for minors at Michigan Medicine has left many families in limbo. Some are seeking out-of-state providers, while others are relying on telemedicine or informal networks to maintain their children’s access to necessary medications. For others, the decision marks the end of a lifeline.
Community leaders warn that the ripple effects could be far-reaching. "There is some fear transgender adults may be targeted next," Halsch said, reflecting a growing sense of vulnerability among LGBTQ+ Michiganders. The uncertainty has left many feeling isolated and anxious, unsure of where to turn for support or advocacy.
Meanwhile, the state attorney general’s warning to the university signals that the legal and political fight over transgender health care in Michigan is far from over. As the debate intensifies, advocates, families, and medical professionals alike are bracing for further challenges—and searching for ways to safeguard the health and well-being of some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.
While the path forward remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the lives and futures of transgender youth in Michigan have been thrown into turmoil by a decision that, for many, feels as much political as it is medical. As families, advocates, and officials grapple with the fallout, the story of Michigan Medicine’s policy shift is likely to echo far beyond the hospital’s walls, shaping the landscape of transgender health care for years to come.
