Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi emphasized on Thursday that advancing access to gender-affirming care for transgender children is a priority she is actively pursuing at the national level.
Earlier in the day, Pelosi visited the San Francisco VA Medical Center to assess improvements in health services and research efforts. Her visit also came amid concerns, highlighted by her office, that House Republicans may consider significant cuts to essential veterans’ programs.
When asked by reporters about the recent pauses on gender-affirming care in California, Pelosi responded, “This is an issue I’m working on nationally. We hope to ensure that trans kids have access to the care they need. It’s truly heartbreaking. Given the current political climate in the White House and Congress, I’m unsure how much influence we can exert, but we will keep fighting.”
Pelosi described the situation as “really sad,” noting that a transgender pride flag—featuring five horizontal stripes in light blue, pink, and white—proudly hangs outside her office. She added that several of her colleagues also display the flag as a sign of solidarity.
While Pelosi acknowledged that many Republicans on Capitol Hill oppose medical transitions for transgender youth, she emphasized that she is not alone in advocating for gender-affirming care for kids.
Earlier this month, more than a dozen officials from Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit aiming to block the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict access to gender-affirming procedures and treatments for individuals under 19.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, accuses the administration of attempting to enforce a nationwide ban by threatening healthcare providers with “baseless criminal charges” and investigations.
The lawsuit names President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the Justice Department as defendants. It challenges Trump’s January 28 executive order that bars government support for gender-affirming surgeries and treatments, as well as two memos issued by Bondi and Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate.
Pelosi’s office clarified to Fox News Digital that the former Speaker was referring to this lawsuit when she spoke about her support for gender-affirming care for children.
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s memo directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate and prosecute providers who offer gender-affirming treatments to minors. Meanwhile, Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate’s memo instructs prosecutors to prioritize actions against doctors, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies involved in these procedures.
In response to the Trump administration’s crackdown, Kaiser Permanente announced in July that it would pause gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19 starting August 29. That same month, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles closed its Center for Trans Youth Health and Development, one of the nation’s largest clinics serving transgender youth.
Similarly, Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., announced it would cease providing gender transition-related medical care.
Numerous states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming surgeries for children. The lawsuit names states that currently allow such procedures, including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin.
Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.