{"id":254885,"date":"2026-04-07T00:42:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T00:42:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/254885\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T00:42:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T00:42:08","slug":"california-lawmakers-consider-26m-to-fund-transgender-care-to-make-up-for-trump-cuts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/254885\/","title":{"rendered":"California lawmakers consider $26M to fund transgender care to make up for Trump cuts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Advocacy groups are demanding California lawmakers cough up $26 million in funds for access to \u201cgender-affirming care\u201d despite concerns about a multi-billion dollar state budget <\/a>deficit.<\/p>\n

In a packed committee hearing Monday, statehouse Democrats explored further ways to fight off what they described as \u201ca significant threat\u201d to care access<\/a> for transgender Californians from the Trump administration.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince the very beginning the Trump administration has meticulously, inhumanely attacked the LGBTQ communities, specifically the trans community,\u201d said Sen. Caroline Menjivar. \u201cWe believe everyone deserves the right to be treated equally and fairly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSince the very beginning the Trump administration has meticulously, inhumanely attacked the LGBTQ communities, specifically the trans community,\u201d said Sen. Caroline Menjivar. AP<\/p>\n

Trump has been targeting federal funding of services<\/a> such as puberty blockers or surgery designed to help a person become a specific gender. \u00a0The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a declaration in December that such treatments are unsafe, which California sued over<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Last year, the state authorized $15 million to defray costs of providing coverage affected by the finalized rule. Now, California lawmakers want to do more to prepare for the pending funding cuts, such as propping up a state-based framework to pay for that coverage.<\/p>\n

Lawmakers also considered using CalRx, a state initiative that produces lower-cost prescription drugs, to make any needed gender-affirming drugs.<\/p>\n

One finalized federal rule already classifies \u201cgender-affirming\u201d procedures as non-essential health benefits.<\/p>\n

The federal government also proposed rules to restrict access for youth through Medicare and Medicaid \u2014 health insurance offered through the government for older and low-income Americans. Hospitals and medical providers enrolled in those programs would be prohibited from offering gender transition services to youth, and those funds can\u2019t be used to pay for such services.<\/p>\n

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\u201cSo-called gender-affirming care has inflicted lasting physical and psychological damage on vulnerable young people,\u201d HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/a> said.<\/p>\n

LGBT advocacy organizations claim the federal efforts have dissuaded many doctors from offering transgender services and therefore put lives at risk. JM Jaffe, executive director of Lyon-Martin Community Health Services, said Trump\u2019s funding cuts have had a real impact on staffing and prevented them from applying to federally sourced contracts.<\/p>\n

JM Jaffe, executive director of Lyon-Martin Community Health Services, said Trump\u2019s funding cuts have had a real impact. State of California<\/p>\n

Members of the public wait to attend a hearing on funding gender affirming care. Courtesy of Jean Berns<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a state budget of over $300 billion, our $26 million ask is a small investment to protect and stabilize access,\u201d Sacramento Pride<\/a> said on social media.<\/p>\n

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However, opponents of the state funding criticized lawmakers for excluding voices who are concerned about the effects of \u201cgender-affirming\u201d care.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen millions in taxpayer dollars and irreversible medical decisions for children are on the line, lawmakers have a duty to hear all the evidence, not just one side,\u201d Women Are Real, which advocates for women\u2019s sex-based rights, said in a statement to The Post.<\/p>\n

The Trump administration is targeting gender-affirming care. AP<\/p>\n

Assemblymember Joe Patterson, a Republican, said at the hearing he thinks California is going in the wrong direction on the issue.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe realization that a lot of western society has abandoned transgender affirming care for children, California continues to go full steam ahead on it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The deadline for lawmakers to pass a state budget is June 15.<\/p>\n

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