The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has come under scrutiny for its lack of scientific evidence supporting Assistant Secretary Rachel Levine’s claims regarding the necessity of “gender-affirming care” for transgender youth. Nonprofit watchdog Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT) filed a Freedom of Information Act request, seeking records of scientific evidence and surveys of medical professionals that support Levine’s assertions.
In response to the request, HHS provided only a two-page PDF document titled “Gender-Affirming Care and Young People.” However, this document is not a scientific study but a brochure stating that research shows gender-affirming care improves the mental health and overall well-being of gender-diverse children. It references a single study, which indicates that transgender youth receiving treatment had slightly lower rates of suicidal thoughts compared to those not receiving treatment.
PPT has accused Levine of violating HHS’s scientific integrity policies by making politically motivated statements and misrepresenting scientific evidence. The watchdog group has requested an investigation by the HHS Inspector General, emphasizing that government officials presenting personal opinions as irrefutable science undermines public trust in scientific institutions.
PPT argues that HHS’s response, providing only a two-page information sheet with selective data, contradicts the agency’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking and professional practices. The group’s director, Michael Chamberlain, expressed concern over the lack of evidence supporting HHS’s claims and the potential dangers of irreversible measures taken without robust scientific backing.
Levine has consistently maintained that gender-affirming care for transgender youth is evidence-based, and opposition to it is unconscionable. However, PPT contends that these assertions ignore a growing body of scientific literature and experts that challenge the effectiveness and safety of such treatments for minors.
The New York Times has recently highlighted cases of children who regretted rushing into gender transitions and therapists who are now skeptical of the “affirming” model. Countries like Britain, Norway, Finland, and Sweden have also raised concerns about the lack of evidence supporting the benefits of hormones, puberty blockers, and surgeries for transgender youth.
PPT has provided the HHS Inspector General with substantial evidence refuting the notion that there is a unanimous consensus among medical professionals on gender transitioning. They argue that Levine’s statements fail to acknowledge contrary evidence and assert that such evidence does not exist.
The lack of substantial evidence and the dismissal of legitimate concerns regarding gender-affirming care for minors raises questions about the integrity and objectivity of HHS’s scientific claims. PPT’s complaint calls for a thorough investigation into these issues to restore public trust in government health officials and ensure evidence-based policymaking.