The Department of Health and Human Services released a report claiming that gender-affirming medical care "may" radicalize young people, a assertion that researchers and medical professionals say has no basis in scientific evidence.
The report, published this week, suggests a possible link between access to gender-affirming treatments and extremist behavior. It offers no peer-reviewed data, clinical studies, or case evidence to support the connection.
Medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association, have repeatedly endorsed gender-affirming care as medically necessary for transgender youth. Major studies show such care reduces depression and suicide risk.
"There is no credible scientific literature that supports a link between gender-affirming care and radicalization," said Dr. Jack Turban, a psychiatrist at the University of California, San Francisco who studies transgender mental health. "This appears to be a political document dressed up as science."
The report arrives as Republican-led states push to restrict or ban gender-affirming care for minors. At least 23 states have passed laws limiting access since 2021. Federal health agencies have faced mounting pressure from conservative lawmakers to scrutinize the practice.
HHS officials did not respond to questions about the evidence behind the report or who authored it. The document cites no external research and lists no contributing scientists.
Critics say the claim echoes a broader pattern of linking marginalized groups to extremism without proof. Similar tactics have been used against immigrant communities and racial minorities, according to civil rights advocates.
"This kind of language puts transgender people in danger," said Olivia Hunt, policy director at the National Center for Transgender Equality. "It frames an already vulnerable population as a threat."
The report's release comes amid a surge in anti-transgender rhetoric nationally. The Human Rights Campaign recorded more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in state legislatures last year, most targeting transgender people.
Legal experts say the report could be used to justify further restrictions on gender-affirming care at the federal level. It could also influence court cases challenging state bans.
Several Democratic lawmakers condemned the report. Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin called it "dangerous misinformation" and demanded HHS retract it.
It is unclear whether the report will lead to policy changes. HHS has not announced any new regulations tied to its findings.
