A new controversy is brewing around New York Attorney General Letitia James, who may have landed in hot water over her stance on transgender healthcare for minors—despite a federal executive order from former President Donald Trump that bans such procedures.
According to a report from Libs of TikTok, James is actively providing guidance on her official website that helps minors in New York access gender-transition surgeries and hormone treatments. This move appears to directly challenge Trump’s executive order, which prohibits federal support for transgender procedures on minors and frames them as harmful and irreversible.
Letitia James has long been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, and she’s warned hospitals that cutting off gender-affirming care in response to the executive order might violate New York’s anti-discrimination laws. While several states have complied with the president’s directive by pausing these procedures, New York has pushed back.
In a post shared on March 26, 2025, Libs of TikTok wrote:
“NY Attorney Letitia James has published a guide on her website aimed at assisting minors in obtaining cross-sex hormones and undergoing genital surgeries. This contravenes Trump’s executive order.”
The post sparked backlash online, with critics accusing James of undermining parental rights and even calling for legal action. Senator Mike Lee of Utah called the situation “child abuse,” while others expressed outrage over what they saw as bypassing parental consent.
The controversy centers around a section on James’ website that states:
“In New York, you have the right to obtain treatment even if you’re under 18, without discrimination based on sex, gender identity, or diagnosis of gender dysphoria.”
The site even outlines how those under 16 can qualify for gender-transition procedures, provided that a doctor confirms the medical necessity, explains the risks and benefits, and secures prior insurance authorization.
Critics argue that this flies in the face of Trump’s executive order titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” which asserts that such treatments amount to irreversible harm. In the order, Trump states:
“It is the policy of the United States not to finance, endorse, or promote the transition of a child from one gender to another.”
As the debate continues, legal experts may need to determine whether James’ guidance is in direct violation of federal law—or simply a state’s assertion of its own healthcare policies. Either way, this clash highlights the ongoing national tension over how best to protect and support transgender youth.