New York City pours $15M into sex change initiatives as Mamdani accuses federal government of intimidation

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is pouring $15 million into new sex change initiatives for children and adults, framing the taxpayer-funded move as a defense against the federal government.

The mayor's office announced the multi-million-dollar package will establish a "direct care access fund" to subsidize providers who offer sex change procedures for children, and launch a dedicated call and text line, as well as fund research into LGBTQ+ healthcare access.

Additionally, the city's health department will launch a pilot program later this year at a Queens clinic to offer "gender-affirming hormone therapy" to adults at "no or low cost and regardless of immigration status."

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In a fiery statement, Mamdani accused the federal government of attempting to "intimidate patients, families and providers," claiming the city is "stepping up" and will do "everything in our power to defend" the procedures.

The mayor has directed the city's law department to prepare for potential litigation to fight any federal efforts to restrict sex changes for children and adults.

Top city officials echoed Mamdani's sharp rhetoric, with Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su blasting the federal government's actions as a "dehumanization of transgender people" that is "not just cruel, it’s dangerous."

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The director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs, Taylor Brown, accused the Trump administration of waging an "ideological war" driven by "political instincts, not science."

The city's announcement follows a recent legal clash over the issue. 

Earlier this month, the city opposed federal grand jury subpoenas seeking the medical records of transgender patients, and a federal judge recently granted an injunction blocking the U.S. Department of Justice from accessing the records.

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Despite the multi-million-dollar price tag, some city officials are arguing that the $15 million investment is not enough. 

With the New York City Council projected to receive an additional $2 billion in tax revenue over the current and upcoming fiscal years, Councilmember Tiffany Caban is pressuring the city to increase the sex change budget to $60 million, according to a report from the Daily News.

"We got money for 500 more cops in the executive budget, but we don’t have money for healthcare and trans kids," Caban said.

City Budget Director Sherif Soliman has also signaled a desire to expand the program, calling the $15 million allocation a "start" and expressing hopes to funnel more money toward the initiatives within the city's fiscal limits, the outlet reported.