FTC, 4 States Sue WPATH Over Gender-Care Claims for Minors
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 17
FTC, 4 States Sue WPATH Over Gender-Care Claims for Minors
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 17
Summary
Wednesday’s lawsuit accuses WPATH of making deceptive claims about gender-affirming care for minors and says its members profited from those representations.
Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas joined the FTC after the agency investigated WPATH, with Chair Andrew Ferguson saying parents must be able to make informed decisions about their children’s health.
WPATH said its guidelines call for individualized care, not a one-size-fits-all approach, and argued the case is retaliation in a broader federal campaign against gender-affirming care.
A federal judge in May temporarily blocked the FTC’s investigation after WPATH sued on First Amendment grounds; the agency has also opened similar probes into the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Endocrine Society.
What specific evidence does the FTC claim proves WPATH’s widely used medical guidelines are deceptive and unsafe for children?
With federal agencies challenging medical guidelines, who now defines the standard of care for transgender youth in the United States?
FTC and States Sue WPATH: Legal Battle Over Gender-Affirming Care Guidelines for Minors
Overview
On June 17, 2026, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and several states filed a lawsuit against WPATH in Texas, accusing the organization of deceptive practices related to its guidelines for gender-affirming care for minors. The lawsuit claims WPATH misled parents about the necessity and safety of medical transitions, failed to disclose side effects, and labeled treatments as medically necessary without enough scientific evidence. Previously, in May 2026, WPATH won a legal victory when a federal judge blocked the FTC from demanding internal communications, suggesting WPATH may use a similar First Amendment defense in this new case.