FTC Takes Legal Action Against Major Transgender Health Organization

WHO:

CNN - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) are involved in the lawsuit.

CNN - The states of Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas are also part of the lawsuit.

CNN - FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson made a statement regarding the lawsuit.

CNN - Lawrence Gostin, an international public health expert at Georgetown University, commented on the lawsuit.

WHAT:

CNN - The FTC and four states sued WPATH, alleging deceptive claims about transgender care for minors.

CNN - The lawsuit claims WPATH profited from misleading information regarding the safety and efficacy of treatments.

CNN - The suit seeks to block WPATH from future violations of the FTC Act and to impose civil penalties.

CNN - Fewer than 1 in 1,000 adolescents in the U.S. received medication related to transgender care, according to a five-year study.

CNN - About 1,200 patients underwent surgeries related to transgender care in one recent year.

WHERE:

CNN - The lawsuit was filed in the United States.

WHEN:

CNN - The lawsuit was filed on a Wednesday (exact date not specified).

CNN - A federal judge ruled in May to temporarily block the FTC's investigation into WPATH.

WHY:

CNN - The lawsuit is part of a broader effort by President Trump’s administration to limit transgender care for minors.

CNN - The FTC aims to protect parents and children from being misled by medical organizations prioritizing profit over health and safety.

HOW:

CNN - The FTC is using consumer protection law to challenge WPATH's standards of care.

CNN - WPATH claims its guidelines promote individualized care rather than a "one size fits all" approach.

(UPDATED June 18, 2026 01:47 UTC)

The Federal Trade Commission and four states, including Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas, have filed a lawsuit against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, alleging that the organization made deceptive claims about the safety and efficacy of transgender care for minors. The suit seeks to block WPATH from future violations of the FTC Act and impose civil penalties, as it claims the organization profited from misleading information, despite fewer than one in 1,000 adolescents in the U.S. receiving related medication. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson stated that this lawsuit is part of a broader effort by President Trump’s administration to protect parents and children from being misled by medical organizations prioritizing profit over health and safety.