WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American First Policy Institute published a model state bill last month that would ban social transition for minors, unveiling the proposal at an event in Washington, D.C. focused on transgender policy. The bill was authored by Jennifer Bauwens, the institute's research and policy lead on family issues.

The model legislation would prohibit therapists or counselors from initiating, recommending, or facilitating social transition for minors, even at a parent's request. Therapists who refer to transgender children by their chosen name could face license revocation or civil penalties under the proposal.

"At AFPI, we care about this issue from no matter what age you are. I think sometimes in policy, we pick the low-hanging fruit and we get the win where we can so that we can keep forging ahead so that ultimately we can protect all people because that is the goal," Bauwens said at the event.

"As we forged ahead with those who are younger than 18, it's helped change the public opinion. And as we keep shifting that belief system, it's going to make more room to protect more people," Bauwens said. She added, "We're not going to quit until we see this thing totally and completely overturned."

An institute spokesperson defended the approach in written remarks. "AFPI prioritizes 'first, do no harm' and research-backed healthcare over a model that rests on weak evidence that long-term studies have revealed have persistently poor outcomes for all people," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added, "We protect children first, because they are the most vulnerable and cannot provide informed consent to permanent, sterilizing procedures."

The institute has claimed at least 73 staffers working for President Donald Trump in his second term, including at least eight in cabinet-level positions. A press release from the institute stated that the Trump administration had implemented, at least partially, more than 90% of its policy agenda.

Within weeks of beginning his second term, Trump signed five executive orders restricting the rights of transgender people in the military, schools, sports, doctors' offices, and legal documents such as passports. Federal restrictions on medical transition have applied to minors under 19 and to adults incarcerated in federal prison. "The administration will continue to defend girls' sports and block unscientific and irreversible child transition procedures," White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in an email.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed a rule that would ban hospitals participating in Medicare and Medicaid from providing gender-affirming care to young people. Both proposed CMS rules apply to minors and define "children" as people under 19, which in most states includes individuals who are legal adults.

Republican state lawmakers have passed bills targeting trans youth in at least half of the United States, banning young trans people from accessing puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, participating in sports teams consistent with their gender identity, or using private facilities aligned with their identity. The Supreme Court ruled against a Colorado law banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ children, finding that the law violated the First Amendment.