A Hospital & a Settlement : Texas Children’s Pays $10 Million and Stops Pediatric Gender Care — But for the Children Caught in the Middle, the Wounds May Never Heal

Texas Children’s Hospital has agreed to pay more than $10 million and stop performing pediatric gender-affirming procedures as part of a settlement with the Justice Department and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, federal officials announced.

The agreement is the first resolution from a nationwide Justice Department investigation into what the agency described as illegal sex-rejecting procedures on minors. Under the settlement, the hospital also committed to establish a clinic for patients who later seek care after stopping gender-transition treatment.

Federal officials said the hospital will pay $10 million to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims to public and private insurers for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and other procedures provided to minors. The government said the conduct violated federal fraud and health-care laws, though the hospital denied wrongdoing.

“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting America’s children,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “Today’s resolution furthers that commitment and puts providers of so-called ‘gender affirming care’ on notice that this Department will vigorously enforce federal law where children are put at risk.”
“I am grateful that Texas Children’s wants to be part of the solution and no longer the problem,” said Brett A. Shumate, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. “Its commitment to providing detransitioner care is emblematic of just that. While the Department is satisfied with the resolution announced today, our division will continue to work tirelessly to protect America’s children and hold accountable pharmaceutical companies and medical providers who have taken advantage of vulnerable children under the guise of ‘care.’”

The Justice Department portrayed the case as part of a broader effort to scrutinize medical treatment for transgender minors. Critics of the lawsuit are likely to see the settlement differently, as a politically charged federal intervention into decisions typically made between doctors, patients and families. The settlement itself does not resolve the wider debate over gender-affirming care, only the allegations raised by prosecutors.

“Today is a monumental day in the fight to stop the radical transgender movement. This historic settlement reflects an institutional and fundamental cultural shift away from radical ‘gender’ ideology. In addition to helping establish the first-ever Detransition Clinic and securing millions, this settlement will ensure that the deranged child mutilators who hurt our kids are fired and held accountable,” said Attorney General Paxton. “I applaud Texas Children’s Hospital for changing course and committing to being a part of the solution by agreeing to form a first-of-its kind Detransition Clinic that will help provide free care to those who have been victimized by twisted, morally bankrupt transgender ideology. Under my watch, I will investigate and bring the full force of the law against any Texas hospital that abuses children with harmful medical interventions to ‘transition’ kids.”

Officials said Texas Children’s Hospital cooperated during the investigation and that its willingness to end the services and fund care for former patients was a significant factor in the resolution. The agreement also requires the hospital to dedicate millions of dollars to medical care for people harmed by prior treatment.

The department said the investigation is being handled by its Civil Division and fraud section. The claims resolved in the settlement remain allegations, and no court has made a finding of liability.

Justice Department Accuses Yale Medical School of Violating Federal Law — Black and Hispanic Applicants Admitted at Higher Rates Than White and Asian Peers With Same Scores

A Justice Department investigation says Yale School of Medicine used race in admissions decisions in violation of federal law, according to findings released after a year-long review.

The Civil Rights Division said Yale’s documents showed school leaders intentionally considered applicants’ race and studied ways to use racial proxies after the Supreme Court restricted race-based admissions. The department also said its review of admissions data found that Black and Hispanic applicants were admitted at higher rates than White and Asian applicants with similar test scores. Yale continued a race-based admissions program despite the Supreme Court’s ruling and public pressure for reform.

“Yale has continued its race-based admissions program despite the Supreme Court and the public’s clear mandate for reform.” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This Department will continue to shed light on these illegal practices, and demand that institutions of higher education comply with federal law.”

Yale receives substantial federal financial assistance, giving the federal government authority to review whether its admissions practices comply with civil rights laws. The department said it will continue examining admissions policies at medical schools and other institutions that receive federal funds.

The findings do not amount to a court judgment, but they place Yale under renewed scrutiny at a time when selective universities remain under pressure to prove their admissions systems are fair and legally compliant.

Protecting the Skies or Poisoning the Waters? Fight Over Air Force Flares and Chaff Ends — As Military Readiness Wins Over Environmental Concerns in Eastern Oregon

A challenge to the Air Force’s fighter jet training operations in eastern Oregon has been dropped after a conservation group voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit over the release of chaff and flares, according to the Justice Department.

The Oregon Natural Desert Association had sued, alleging that aircraft training over the Paradise North area sent countermeasures into waterways in violation of the Clean Water Act. The group argued the Air Force needed a permit for the releases. The Air Force disputed that position, pointing to a presidential determination issued April 20 that temporarily exempted its training operations in Idaho, Oregon and Nevada from certain federal, state and local water pollution requirements.

Justice Department officials said the dismissal avoids disruption to military training and saves time and resources that the litigation would have required. The department said the case involves longstanding fighter training activity in eastern Oregon, where military aircraft have trained since 1942.

“Given how critical the Air Force’s training operations are to the nation’s military readiness and national defense, we are gratified to see this case dismissed,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Congress granted the President the authority to exempt certain military operations from Clean Water Act requirements, and doing so here ensures that our pilots continue to receive the best training in the world.”

The Air Force conducts fighter jet training in the area, primarily involving F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft. The training takes place across several military operating areas and may include the release of chaff and flares, which are used to practice defenses against radar-guided weapons and heat-seeking missiles.

The Justice Department said Congress authorized the president to grant exemptions for certain military operations under the Clean Water Act. With the case dismissed, the Air Force can continue its training operations without the court fight over permitting requirements.