A health clinic in Los Angeles has announced its loss of federal funding, a consequence of executive orders from President Donald Trump aimed at transgender individuals. St. John’s Community Health, a prominent provider of low-cost healthcare in the area, revealed that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) terminated a $1.6 million grant intended to support its program focused on transgender health and social services.
This marks the first time a health provider in California has publicly cited operational disruptions linked to the Trump administration’s policies. According to correspondence from the CDC, the grant was revoked to align with an executive order mandating that federal agencies only recognize two genders. “At St. John’s, we assert that every individual holds a fundamental human right to healthcare. Disagreement with gender identity does not grant the authority to deprive anyone of their healthcare access,” stated Jim Mangia, president and CEO of St. John’s Community Health.
The funding, initiated in 2022 through the CDC’s HIV prevention program, facilitated vital services for transgender adults. This included testing for sexually transmitted infections and HIV, health education, and connections to vital social services like housing assistance, substance use treatment, and food stamps. Annually, more than 500 people benefited from this funding.
In addition to the grant termination, St. John’s, alongside numerous clinics nationwide, recently faced a temporary halt in access to over $18 million in federal funds due to a different executive order. Although two judges have temporarily suspended that order, it does not apply to the current restrictions impacting the funding essential for serving transgender patients, as noted by Mangia.
St. John’s intends to maintain its services and is prepared to initiate legal action against the ongoing withholding of federal funds. “We believe these grants were designated by Congress and are therefore constitutionally safeguarded. We will exhaust all avenues available to us to ensure continued funding for these essential programs,” Mangia emphasized.
Several executive orders from Trump in recent weeks have specifically targeted transgender individuals. These include attempts to exclude them from military service and to prevent schools from recognizing preferred pronouns or students’ transitions. Additionally, a recent executive order prohibits federal funding for transgender health services for minors, such as hormone therapy and surgeries, while specifically pointing to federal research grants for hospitals and medical schools, as well as Medicare and Medicaid funding.
In these orders, Trump has described gender-affirming care with terms such as “sterilizing,” “mutilation,” and “maiming,” remarks that contradict the clinical evidence supported by major medical associations, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. These organizations oppose any government interference in the choices made in the doctor-patient relationship.
Reports indicate that hospitals across the nation are halting services related to gender-affirming care for young people, with significant facilities in cities like New York, Denver, and Washington, D.C. receiving Trump’s commendation as achieving his intended objectives.
Concerns about funding have been voiced by organizations throughout California that offer health and social services to transgender individuals, according to Jorge Reyes Salinas, communications director for Equality California, the largest LGBTQ civil rights advocacy organization in the state. “These decisions made by the Trump administration could restrict trans individuals from obtaining necessary medical care, jeopardizing their housing and job opportunities, which would exacerbate existing health disparities and encourage discrimination,” Salinas asserted in a statement.
Federal data indicates that at least 24 organizations in California have received federal funding for transgender health programs or research in the last five years. Local LGBTQ organizations and key Democratic leaders responded swiftly to condemn these recent actions and have reassured residents that California laws safeguarding transgender rights remain intact.
“California families pursuing gender-affirming care, alongside the professionals providing it, are protected by state laws, including the Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Intersex (TGI) Inclusive Care Act. The president’s orders do not alter these protections,” stated Attorney General Rob Bonta.
State legislation mandates that insurers regulated by the state cover medically necessary gender-affirming care, which includes mental health services. This legal framework also offers protection for doctors treating transgender patients and contains a range of nondiscrimination provisions.
Nevertheless, confusion among service providers persists regarding the implementation of Trump’s directives, with some expressing concerns about potential repercussions on their licenses or funding. “We are hearing instances of medical providers preemptively canceling appointments for transgender youth due to fears of penalties,” remarked Dannie Ceseña, director of the California LGBTQ Health & Human Services Network. “This contradiction to California law should be addressed, and families encountering such cancellations are encouraged to reach out to the attorney general’s office.”
