U.S. Congress and Federal Legislation

Rep. Bob Onder, R-Mo., a physician, is introducing federal legislation called the 'Chloe Cole Act' that would bar gender‑related medical procedures for minors nationwide and give children and parents a private right of action to sue medical professionals. The bill is explicitly framed as implementing former President Donald Trump’s January 2025 executive order 'Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,' including a directive for 'lengthy' statutes of limitations so detransitioners can bring claims years later. Named for outspoken detransitioner Chloe Cole, the measure targets puberty blockers, cross‑sex hormones and surgeries for those under 18, with Onder accusing 'transgender clinics' of exploiting youth for 'ideology and profit' and causing permanent harm. Cole backs the proposal as a 'vital step' to prevent minors from undergoing what she calls 'experimental and barbaric treatments,' while citing a recent New York jury verdict awarding $2 million to detransitioner Fox Varian over a teenage double mastectomy as evidence that courts may be receptive to such claims. The bill pits a Trump‑aligned congressional push against positions taken by major U.S. medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Medical Association, which have endorsed access to gender‑affirming care for minors under clinical guidelines.