HHS proposes curbs on gender procedures for minors as detransitioner Chloe Cole details complications

Washington, DC — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services unveiled a series of proposed regulatory actions on Thursday aimed at ending gender-affirming medical procedures for minors, part of President Donald Trump’s January executive order directing agencies to protect children from chemical and surgical mutilation. An HHS official described the push as a move to recalibrate care for youth dealing with gender dysphoria and said the actions could alter funding for hospitals that provide such procedures.

Chloe Cole, now 21, who underwent a gender transition from female to male between ages 12 and 16, stood with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other officials at the event to advocate for child protection. Afterward, Cole told Fox News Digital that puberty blockers, testosterone therapy and a double mastectomy she underwent have left lasting and irreversible effects on her health. “As soon as gender was in the picture, none of my doctors or psychologists asked the real questions that they should have,” she said.

"The entire focus was on my feelings and what I wanted rather than what I really needed in that moment," Cole added, describing a lack of discussion about risks associated with sex-reassignment interventions. She has said that she needed support and affirmation for the body she had, rather than medical steps she describes as irreversible. "There was nothing they could say to me that would make me understand the gravity of what I was about to go through, because I was still growing up," she recalled.

Cole said her parents did not believe she was transgender at the time, but they faced pressure as resources for families navigating gender dysphoria were scarce in those years. She said authorities warned that delaying transition could increase the risk of suicide, a claim she disputed in later statements. "My legal guardians were forced to make this decision under duress," she stated in a previous interview, adding that even if parents had supported transitioning, no adult has a right to determine whether a child should be chemically sterilized or mutilated.

Cole said she has faced multiple complications from medications and surgeries, and that her quality of life continues to be affected. She indicated her fertility status remains unknown and that she would not be able to breastfeed because her breasts were removed. "As an adult, I am now grieving, and on top of that, the areolar skin grafts they used in my surgery began to fail two years afterward. I must wear bandages on my chest every day," she wrote.

In 2023, Cole filed a lawsuit with the Center for American Liberty against hospitals she says pushed her into what she views as medical mutilation. Mark Trammell of CAL characterized Thursday’s HHS announcement as a significant acknowledgment that experimental medical interventions on children with gender distress have not met basic safety and effectiveness standards. "It signals that medicine must return to its core ethical obligation: First, do no harm," Trammell said. The lawsuit underscores her ongoing advocacy against what she describes as irreversible harms from gender-transition procedures.

Several medical voices weighed in on the topic. Fox News Medical Analyst Dr. Marc Siegel urged caution and a more conservative approach for minors, saying long-term effects of puberty blockers may include bone loss, concentration difficulties, learning disruptions and potential fertility impacts. "I think it makes sense in most cases to treat underlying mental health concerns before jumping into treatments, including surgery, that may be difficult to reverse," he said. He also emphasized that issues of gender should not be politicized and urged that care prioritize the welfare of the child.

Cole, who began her transition at age 12 and underwent a double mastectomy at 15, has become a prominent detransitioner advocate, telling audiences to slow down and seek family support before pursuing irreversible steps. "There are only two sexes, but there are a million ways to express yourself," she has said, infusing her message with personal beliefs about identity and faith. She told Fox News Digital she hopes other youths questioning gender identity will seek time, love and family guidance before making life-altering decisions.

The policy actions announced Thursday are framed by the administration as part of a broader effort to recalibrate pediatric care and protect children from procedures deemed experimental or insufficiently proven in safety and efficacy. Officials stressed that the proposed rules would be subject to public comment and potential revision before any final regulatory changes. Proponents argue the measures are necessary to ensure minors receive comprehensive mental health support and to prevent irreversible medical steps that may not align with a child's long-term well-being. Critics, however, warn that the actions could limit access to care for transgender youths and increase barriers for families seeking appropriate medical guidance.

Overall, the developments place Chloe Cole’s experience at the center of a national debate about pediatric care, parental rights, medical ethics and the future of gender-affirming treatment policies for minors. As the regulatory process moves forward, families, clinicians and advocacy groups are expected to scrutinize the potential implications for treatment timelines, informed consent, and available safeguards for young people navigating gender dysphoria.