Rush University Hospital Halts New Hormone Care for Minors After Funding Threat

Rush University Medical Center said it is pausing the initiation of hormone therapy for patients younger than 18, becoming the latest Chicago-area hospital to scale back gender-affirming care for minors. People familiar with the decision said the move follows recent warnings from the Trump administration that hospitals providing such treatments to adolescents could lose federal funding. Similar pauses have been announced by other local providers in the past few weeks, signaling a broader retreat as institutions assess potential financial and legal risks. Rush has not disclosed how long the suspension will last or whether care for existing pediatric patients will be affected. The hospital’s decision adds to the growing national debate over medical treatment for transgender youth, with state legislatures and federal agencies proposing or enacting restrictions on puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery.