Hochul Vows to Defend Trans Youth Care After NYU Langone Ends Program

Governor criticizes federal threats that led hospital to discontinue gender-affirming treatments for minors, leaving families scrambling to find new providers.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 8:22pm

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul has vowed to defend the rights of transgender youth and their families after NYU Langone Health announced it would shut down its Transgender Youth Health Program. The hospital cited leadership changes and a 'fraught federal regulatory climate' that has threatened to strip funding from institutions providing gender-affirming care to minors. Hochul criticized the decision, arguing that medical choices belong to families and doctors, not lawmakers in Washington.

Why it matters

The closure of NYU Langone's program has left many families in Manhattan and beyond without access to critical gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy and other treatments. This has prompted legal and political fights, as New York officials seek to protect patient choice and access to care in the face of federal threats to withhold funding from hospitals that provide such services.

The details

NYU Langone confirmed it would discontinue the Transgender Youth Health Program, citing the recent departure of the program's medical director and 'the current regulatory environment.' The hospital said it would try to help existing patients transition their care, but offered few concrete timelines. Parents and patients described abrupt phone calls and canceled follow-ups, with some clinicians recommending temporary refill plans while families search for new providers.

  • On February 21, 2026, NYU Langone announced it would shut down its Transgender Youth Health Program.
  • In the days following the announcement, families scrambled to find new care providers for their children.

The players

Kathy Hochul

The Governor of New York who has vowed to defend the rights of transgender youth and their families against federal interference.

NYU Langone Health

A major healthcare system in New York City that has decided to discontinue its Transgender Youth Health Program, citing leadership changes and a 'fraught federal regulatory climate.'

Letitia James

The Attorney General of New York who has sued the Department of Health and Human Services over rules that would tie federal grants to compliance with policies critics say force discrimination against trans people.

Kristen Gonzalez

A New York State Senator who has urged creating an $8 million gender-affirming care fund to pick up patients who lose access to private clinics.

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What they’re saying

“We believe in choice for ALL New Yorkers. Medical decisions belong to families and their doctors, not Republicans in Washington.”

— Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee

What’s next

New York's attorney general has already sued the Department of Health and Human Services over rules that would tie federal grants to compliance with policies critics say force discrimination against trans people. State lawmakers and advocates are pressing Albany for a concrete plan to ensure continued access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the growing tensions between states that seek to protect transgender rights and the federal government's efforts to restrict access to gender-affirming care. New York officials are determined to defend patient choice and access to essential medical services, even as hospitals face the threat of losing federal funding.