Trump Ban on Funding for Trans Procedures Could Become Law Under GOP Senator's Bill

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., is aiming to cement a controversial Trump-era policy into law, introducing legislation that would permanently ban the use of federal funds for transgender surgical procedures. This move is designed to ensure the policy remains intact regardless of future administrations' political leanings.

The proposed End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act prohibits federal healthcare facilities, physicians, and providers from performing gender transition procedures and blocks federal funding for such treatments. Exceptions are carved out for individuals born with medically verifiable sex-development disorders or those requiring treatment for complications arising from previous gender transition procedures.

Marshall, an OB/GYN by trade, explained, "Heaven forbid we don't get a Republican back in the White House here in four years, the next president could end that order just as easily. That's why we need legislation to give this a permanent fix."

The bill's reach extends across multiple federal programs, including Medicaid, Medicare, and military healthcare. Marshall pointed out that roughly a third of transgender individuals are currently on Medicaid, which involves federal taxpayer dollars. He estimated that the military alone spends between $2 to $3 million annually on such treatments. "I don't think Americans want federal taxpayer dollars used for this purpose," he added pointedly.

The legislation also emphasizes protecting minors, with Marshall arguing against irreversible procedures for those experiencing puberty. "I just think the last thing we want to do is on a young person that's going through puberty to make irreversible changes. They’d be better off waiting until adulthood and addressing other underlying challenges in their lives," he said.

Transgender issues remain a political flashpoint. While some Democrats appear more moderate on certain aspects—such as opposing transgender athletes in women’s sports, according to a recent poll—Marshall criticized Democratic leadership for being unyielding on related policies.

The bill has garnered support from several Republican senators, including Jim Risch, Lindsey Graham, Kevin Cramer, and Josh Hawley, among others. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., is preparing to introduce a companion bill in the House, signaling a broader GOP push to make this policy law.

President Trump has previously issued executive orders targeting gender-identity policies, including banning trans women from women’s sports and defining sex strictly as male or female. Marshall’s legislation seeks to extend these efforts with a more sweeping, permanent measure.