Democrats responded that the bill would replace medical expertise with political ideology while targeting a small and vulnerable group. They warned it would violate parental rights, criminalize physicians, and subject families’ private healthcare decisions to government oversight.
While a small number of lawmakers broke with their party, the vote highlighted deep fractures in Congress. With more anti-trans legislation scheduled for consideration, the fight over gender-affirming care remains intensely contentious, reflecting wider cultural and political battles shaping national policy debates.
