Senate Republican Leads Charge on Taxpayer-Funded Gender Care
In a move that's broadening scrutiny just days before a key Senate hearing, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has fired off letters to Rhode Island health providers. He's seeking straight answers on reports that these taxpayer-backed entities provided puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, surgical referrals, or related services to patients under 19. The core question: are federal dollars enabling this, and will taxpayers foot the bill when former patients sue?
Cassidy's probe zeroes in on community health centers and children's hospitals receiving massive federal support. These include Thundermist Health Center and Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Rhode Island, both tied to Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funding. Documents reviewed show pathways for minors under 18 to access hormones with parental consent for initial visits, and programs targeting LGBTQ youth as young as 13.
This isn't isolated. Earlier this year, HHS General Counsel Mike Stuart referred several such centers for inspector general investigations over similar practices. Cassidy wants HRSA to detail any enforcement actions taken, amid billions in annual funding—over $6.3 billion for FY 2026 alone flowing to community health centers (CHCs).
Health care providers are supposed to protect children’s health, not subject them to dangerous sex-change procedures driven by ideology. These entities need to be held accountable to prevent further harm to children.
Federal Liability Shields and Mounting Lawsuits
A major flashpoint is the federal liability framework under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). Certain CHCs and providers are deemed U.S. Public Health Service employees for malpractice claims, shifting defense to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Cassidy cites cases where DOJ has represented providers in detransition-related litigation, arguing this leaves taxpayers defending practices even as HHS seeks restrictions on them.
Thundermist, for instance, draws 66% of its FY 2024 grants from HHS and HRSA, plus Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements and 340B drug pricing benefits. A Rhode Island lawsuit from a former patient accuses its providers of malpractice, negligence, and lack of informed consent tied to gender transition care. Hasbro's letter shifts focus to children's hospital funding streams, probing similar federal ties.
Cassidy's letters demand responses by May 28, asking HRSA to identify CHCs still offering these services to minors, assess funding eligibility impacts, and disclose taxpayer costs for resolving related claims. With detransition suits rising nationwide, the senator warns of accountability gaps in how federal guardrails govern these funds.
Upcoming Hearing Amplifies Push for Restrictions
Timing is no coincidence: Cassidy's actions precede a HELP Committee hearing on pediatric gender transition risks and federal support for providers continuing them despite warnings. Republicans aim to grill agencies on identifying offending providers, grant restrictions or terminations, and whether liability protections should persist for such cases.
Fox News Digital reached out to Thundermist, Hasbro, and HHS for comment but received no response in time for publication. Meanwhile, prior whistleblower exposures—like a children's hospital performing trans surgeries on minors—have sparked Dem-GOP clashes, underscoring the divide. Cassidy's effort signals escalating congressional pressure to realign taxpayer dollars with child protection priorities, not ideological interventions.
Key Federal Funding Streams Under Scrutiny
- Over $6.3 billion in mandatory and discretionary funding for CHCs in FY 2026
- $120 million to HRSA for administering FTCA liability program
- Enhanced Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements
- Revenue from 340B drug pricing program
- Grants comprising up to 66% of some centers' revenue from HHS/HRSA
