AMA Said It ‘Agrees’ on Sex-Change Surgeries for Kids, Then Transitions Away Months Later

The American Medical Association (AMA) is walking back its February statement on gender-related surgeries for minors after reports said it agreed with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

In February, the AMA said the evidence for what it describes as “gender-affirming surgical intervention” in minors was insufficient and that, in the absence of clear evidence, it agreed with ASPS that those surgeries "should generally be deferred to adulthood."

“Currently, the evidence for gender-affirming surgical intervention in minors is insufficient for us to make a definitive statement. In the absence of clear evidence, the AMA agrees with ASPS that surgical interventions in minors should be generally deferred to adulthood.”

The report said the AMA still supports transition-related care for young people and cited gaps in long-term surgical outcome data.

Here's the AMA's full statement:

"Today, our colleagues at ASPS concluded that the evidence supporting gender-related surgery in minors is insufficient and of low certainty. The American Medical Association respects the expertise and dedication of surgeons who care for patients… https://t.co/BUlupZbp32
— Haley Strack (@StrackHaley) February 4, 2026

In 2023, the group’s House of Delegates backed “gender-affirming care” for minors and said it would oppose legal penalties on patients, parents, facilities, and clinicians involved in that care.

“In the resolution, the AMA committed to opposing any criminal and legal penalties against patients seeking gender-affirming care, family members or guardians who support them in seeking medical care, and health care facilities and clinicians who provide gender-affirming care.
The AMA will work at the federal and state level with legislators and regulators to oppose such policies and collaborate with other organizations to educate the Federation of State Medical Boards about the importance of gender-affirming care.”

While the February statement used the word “agrees,” the board now says it did not, in fact, endorse that position and did not change policy.

In its March 2026 newsletter, the AMA says it did not issue a proactive statement and approved language for use only in response to media inquiries about the ASPS position

“The Board agreed on language to be used only if the AMA was contacted by the media, and for the AMA President to use in interviews. During our Board discussion, we were clear that we were not changing AMA policy."

They went on to write that:

The AMA did not issue a preemptive statement on these issues. We responded only after being contacted by media outlets, using the language approved by the Board. While some media coverage characterized this as agreement with the ASPS statement, that phrasing did not come from the AMA.

The American Medical Association has just clarified that it does NOT, in fact, endorse the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ statement on gender surgery.

AMA says that its statements to the press were misinterpreted, and that its support for hormones/surgeries remains… pic.twitter.com/F4CHTxTrie
— Leor Sapir (@LeorSapir) March 26, 2026

In early January, AMA leadership met with HHS officials after a proposed rule that would halt federal funding and Medicare and Medicaid participation for institutions providing such care. Hospitals had already paused or discontinued some or all “gender-affirming” services. An ASPS representative stated opposition to surgery in minors and cited an increase in requests for reversals.

AMA Demands That Garland Investigate (and Potentially Arrest) Journalists Over Exposing 'Transgender Care' Hospitals

Federal officials were already moving on funding and participation rules, hospitals had already paused services, and ASPS had already taken a position opposing surgery in minors.

The AMA said it “agrees” with deferring surgery in minors. Weeks later, it said it never endorsed that position and never changed policy.

Seems like their stance is in transition.

Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.

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