The Federal Trade Commission and four states have filed a lawsuit against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), marking the latest move by the Trump administration to restrict gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The suit, announced on Wednesday, alleges that WPATH made deceptive claims about such care and that its members profited from those claims. Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas joined the FTC in the legal action.
FTC Chair Comments on the Suit
FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson stated on X: “Parents have a right to make informed decisions about their children’s health. The FTC will not allow parents and children to be deceived by medical organizations and providers who are prioritizing profit over children’s health and safety.”
WPATH Responds
In response, WPATH emphasized that its guidelines advocate for individualized care rather than a “one size fits all” approach. The organization noted that its standards, developed over more than 50 years, are based on “established scientific standards, expert consensus and patient-centered values.”
Background of the Investigation
The lawsuit follows an FTC investigation into WPATH. The group had previously sued to block the probe, arguing that it violated First Amendment rights. A federal judge temporarily halted the investigation in May. The FTC has also launched investigations into the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Endocrine Society regarding their guidelines on gender-affirming care; both organizations have also filed lawsuits.
WPATH’s statement expressed confidence in its legal position, asserting that a federal court had already ruled against the FTC by blocking the earlier investigation. “WPATH is in a strong position to prove that the FTC is acting out of pure retaliation as part of the federal government’s relentless and targeted campaign to undermine gender-affirming care by attacking the First Amendment rights and the independence of professional medical organizations,” the statement read. “We expect the same result when we oppose this latest attack on WPATH and its mission to promote evidence-informed care and guidance for doctors and their patients.”
