Children and teens seeking medical care should never have to worry that the government will seize their most private health records. But that’s exactly what’s happening at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where the U.S. Department of Justice—under direction from the Trump administration—is demanding detailed medical information on every young person who received gender-affirming care.

These subpoenas don’t just target CHOP. They target kids. They demand names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and even information about parents and guardians. These children and their families came to CHOP seeking care, not persecution. Now they are being forced to fear that their identities and medical decisions will be exposed in a political crusade.

CHOP has bravely refused to hand over sensitive information that could retraumatize patients, endanger providers, and violate basic rights to privacy. In their own words, complying with the subpoena would reveal “the most intimate, sensitive, and often painful details of their young lives.” And for what? There’s no public evidence of misconduct—just a blanket investigation based on the kind of care these youth received.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t about fraud or safety. It’s about politics. The DOJ’s sweeping demand for records appears to be part of a broader effort to intimidate transgender youth, discourage families from seeking medically endorsed care, and dismantle programs that help these kids live full, healthy lives.

Major medical organizations—including the American Academy of Pediatrics—recognize gender-affirming care as essential and evidence-based. But if the DOJ succeeds in getting these records, it sets a terrifying precedent: that any politically disfavored form of healthcare can be investigated by demanding the private files of the people who rely on it.

We cannot let that happen.

Sign this petition to tell Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. District Judge Mark A. Kearney: stop weaponizing the legal system against transgender youth. Protect medical privacy. Protect kids.

Photo: Alejandro A. Alvarez/Philadelphia Inquirer