A proposed U.S. Law is drawing criticism from experts who warn it could simultaneously increase the risk of female genital mutilation (FGM/C) and exacerbate already elevated suicide rates among transgender youth. The legislation, details of which have not been fully released, has sparked concern among advocates for both groups, who see a dangerous conflation of distinct issues.
The core of the controversy centers on the framing of gender-affirming care for transgender minors. Opponents of such care, including President-elect Donald Trump, have increasingly equated it with FGM/C, a practice widely condemned as a severe violation of human rights. Trump, in a recent statement, pledged to revoke Biden administration policies supporting gender-affirming care, labeling them “ridiculous.”
Advocates for survivors of FGM/C express concern that this rhetoric undermines decades of work to combat the practice, which involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. According to the U.S. Department of State, over half a million women and girls in the United States are estimated to have undergone or be at risk of undergoing FGM/C. Globally, approximately 3 million girls are at risk annually. The efforts to ban FGM/C in the U.S. – with 41 states already having laws addressing it – are now being complicated by the political debate surrounding transgender healthcare, according to activists who work on both issues.
The proposed law’s potential impact on transgender youth is equally alarming. Research indicates that transgender and non-binary youth already face significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts compared to their cisgender peers. A 2015 United States Trans Survey (USTS) found that transgender adults reported suicide attempt rates nine times higher than the general U.S. Population. Further, a study published in 2022 by The Trevor Project found that LGBTQ+ youth were up to three times more likely to attempt suicide than their cisgender, heterosexual peers. U.S. Military veterans who identify as transgender have suicide-related event rates more than 20 times higher than cisgender veterans.
However, studies too suggest that gender-affirming care can be protective against suicide. A review of 23 studies indicated that gender-affirming treatment – including surgery, hormones, and puberty blockers – was associated with a reduction in suicidality, although the review cautioned about methodological limitations and the need for further research. A study on mental health and suicide risk amongst Black trans and non-binary youth in the US demonstrated the importance of including Black trans and non-binary youth in race and ethnicity-specific support structures.
The conflation of gender-affirming care and FGM/C is particularly troubling to those who have dedicated their careers to combating both practices. Critics argue that equating the two not only misrepresents the nature of gender-affirming care – which is provided by medical professionals to address gender dysphoria – but also weaponizes laws designed to protect girls against a harmful traditional practice to deny transgender youth access to potentially life-saving medical treatment.
As of February 22, 2026, the full text of the proposed legislation remains unavailable, and the White House has not issued a formal response to the growing concerns. A hearing before Congress to discuss the bill is scheduled for March 15, 2026.
