On Thursday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced an initiative aimed at blocking medical treatments for transgender youth, controversially using the term “sex-rejecting procedures” instead of “gender-affirming care.” This rhetoric is shaping a broader political strategy that threatens the well-being of transgender individuals at a crucial moment in U.S. government policy.

While advocates and healthcare providers argue that puberty blockers, hormones, and, in rare instances, surgical interventions serve as vital suicide prevention measures, Kennedy characterized these procedures as harmful, claiming they “rob children of their futures.” His proposals would strip federal funding, including Medicaid, from hospitals offering transgender care to minors.

In addition to these measures, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has begun cracking down on nonmedical products such as chest binders and silicone prostheses. This regulatory effort not only targets commerce related to gender-affirming products but also implicitly seeks to diminish the visibility of transgender communities. Recently, the FDA sent warning letters to several companies, urging them to classify their products as medical devices or face severe regulatory actions.

The FDA’s efforts come under scrutiny, particularly given that its overseer, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is led by Kennedy, who has a history of promoting misleading health claims. Appointing figures who have previously advocated pseudoscientific treatments raises serious concerns regarding the integrity of federal health policies.

The agenda to limit transgender rights intensified with an executive order from former President Trump, declaring an intention to “Defend Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restore Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” This order mandates that federal documents reflect only two sexes—male and female. Recently, a bill passed by the House of Representatives aims to criminalize the provision of transgender care, potentially resulting in up to ten years of imprisonment for healthcare providers.

These legislative actions echo a broader trend in the current administration, which appears to be attempting to erase designated groups from public life. As alarming as this may seem, the reality is that, like individuals seeking abortions in restrictive regions, transgender individuals will continue to pursue essential medical care, albeit through unsafe avenues.

Criminalization of transgender health care does not eliminate the desire for bodily autonomy; it merely heightens the dangers associated with it. Transgender and nonbinary people have existed throughout history and will continue to do so despite these oppressive measures. The efforts to erase their identities from public policy will ultimately fail, but not without inflicting significant pain and suffering along the way.