The Federal Trade Commission and the states of Texas, Alaska, Iowa, and Nebraska have filed a lawsuit against the “World Professional Association for Transgender Health” (WPATH), alleging the organization made deceptive and unsubstantiated claims regarding pediatric “gender-transition” treatments.
The complaint, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, accuses WPATH of providing guidance that enabled medical providers to make false claims about the safety, effectiveness, and medical necessity of pediatric medical transition services.
According to the FTC, WPATH promoted medical interventions, including puberty blockers, hormones, and surgical procedures, for minors experiencing distress related to their sex characteristics while allegedly misrepresenting the level of scientific consensus supporting such treatments.
“Today, the FTC filed a lawsuit against WPATH alleging that the organization made false and unsubstantiated claims regarding the necessity, effectiveness and safety of puberty blockers, hormones and sex-change surgeries,” FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said in a statement.
“Children, but especially their parents, must have complete and truthful information when making decisions to purchase medical services,” Ferguson added.
Allegations Against WPATH
The lawsuit alleges WPATH labeled nearly all pediatric transition services as “medically necessary” to increase the likelihood that insurers would cover the procedures.
FTC officials contend that WPATH’s recommendations led clinicians to make misleading claims to parents and children about the benefits and risks associated with “gender-transition” treatments.
According to the complaint, WPATH failed to adequately disclose potential side effects associated with some treatments, including physical, sexual, and psychological complications linked to cross-sex hormones.
The lawsuit also alleges that WPATH promoted claims that pediatric transition procedures are “lifesaving” and reduce suicide risk despite lacking sufficient scientific evidence to support those assertions.
FTC Director of Public Affairs Joe Simonson said WPATH’s guidance was designed to maximize insurance coverage for procedures that some parents otherwise “would be unable or unwilling to purchase without insurance.”
“WPATH professional members have profited immensely from the organization’s work, but this profit has come at the expense of children and their parents,” Simonson said, per The Hill.
State Officials Support Legal Action
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton joined the lawsuit and criticized the organization’s recommendations.
“Any group that illegally promotes irreversible, life-altering ‘transitioning’ procedures to kids as safe and necessary will face the full force of the law for harming children,” Paxton said.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said WPATH had presented itself as an authority on pediatric gender treatment while withholding important information from families and medical professionals.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird argued that WPATH’s recommendations for irreversible treatments lacked sufficient scientific support, while Alaska Acting Attorney General Cori Mills said organizations promoting irreversible treatments for minors must fully disclose risks and long-term consequences.
WPATH Rejects Claims
WPATH called the lawsuit “baseless” and said it expects the courts to reject the government’s claims.
“The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is not a medical provider and has no place interfering with the process of individualized medical decision-making,” the organization said in a statement, The Hill reported.
WPATH also argued that the FTC lacks jurisdiction over the organization and its speech, adding that the lawsuit is part of a broader federal effort to undermine “gender-affirming” care.
Broader Federal Scrutiny
The lawsuit marks the latest action by the Trump administration targeting institutions associated with pediatric “gender-transition” treatments.
Earlier this year, the FTC launched investigations into WPATH, the Endocrine Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding their guidance on “gender-affirming” care for minors.
Those organizations sued to block the investigations, and a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in May, temporarily halting the probes. The court found WPATH was likely to show that the investigation was retaliatory.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services praised the FTC’s lawsuit.
“I commend Chairman Ferguson and the FTC for taking decisive action against WPATH,” said Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “Medical organizations must follow the science, disclose conflicts, and put patients first.”
HHS cited concerns raised in its 2025 report reviewing pediatric gender dysphoria treatment guidelines, including questions about the evidence base and development process behind WPATH’s Standards of Care.
The case will now proceed in federal court, where the FTC and the participating states must prove their allegations. WPATH has vowed to contest the lawsuit and defend its clinical guidelines.
