New York congressmembers, LGBTQ groups denounce Mount Sinai settlement with DOJ

LGBTQ organizations and New York Democrats in Congress are speaking out against a settlement between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Mount Sinai Hospital System, which has agreed to stop providing youth gender-affirming care and pay out millions to former patients after it faced a federal investigation. Two political clubs, the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City and the Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, were joined by the statewide LGBTQ organization Equality New York on Sept. 8 in criticizing the settlement as a violation of New York State's Shield Law 2.0 and an attack on the healthcare needs of transgender youth. The criticism, which was echoed by Congressmembers Jerrold Nadler of Manhattan, Ritchie Torres of the Bronx, and Grace Meng of Queens, came hours before LGBTQ groups planned to hold a 4:30 p.m. protest on Sept. 8 at Mount Sinai's location at 5 E. 98th Street in Manhattan. Stephanie Fox, who serves as president of the Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, accused New York's attorney general, Letitia James, of having 'failed to take action sooner to enforce our state's anti-discrimination laws before these medical institutions caved to federal intimidation.' 'Lambda Independent Democrats will not stay silent while local hospitals ignore the suffering of young people to political bullying, and we demand immediate action from the attorney general and NYC Human Rights Commission, as well as increased funding in the State and City budgets for independent youth healthcare,' Fox added. A spokesperson for James declined to comment on Mount Sinai's agreement with the DOJ in the hours after it was announced, but said the attorney general's office was reviewing the agreement. John Wahlmeier, the president of the Stonewall Democratic Club, said trans youth are yet again facing a justice system that is being 'weaponized' by the Trump administration. 'Trans people deserve rights, access to health care, and dignity,' Wahlmeier said. 'Thankfully, we have fighters at the state and federal level who are standing up to defend our community and enforce state law.' In announcing the settlement, Attorney General Todd Blanche made inaccurate statements about gender-affirming care, framing it as harmful. 'The Department of Justice is committed to holding accountable medical providers that violate federal law and endanger children through so-called gender-affirming care,' Attorney General Todd Blanche said. 'This agreement puts an end to these practices at Mount Sinai and provides meaningful relief for individuals who have already suffered harm.' U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche listens to President Donald Trump's remarks at David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence in Garden City, New York, U.S., August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno New York Democrats further cast blame on the Trump administration for attacking the healthcare needs of trans youth. 'Gender-affirming care is health care, and the Trump administration's settlement with Mount Sinai forces a health care institution to abandon patients who depend on it,' said Torres, New York State's only out member of Congress. 'This agreement runs counter to the spirit of New York's Shield Law 2.0, which was written to protect gender-affirming care from exactly this kind of overreach. Transgender youth in New York deserve care from providers who will not bend to political pressure from Washington.' Meng said the DOJ 'strong-armed' the hospital system, while Nadler said he was 'deeply disappointed that Mount Sinai has struck a deal with the Trump administration.' 'Doctors and families, not federal prosecutors, should decide what care a child needs,' Meng said. 'Every major medical association in this country has found this care safe and necessary.' Two Democrats who won congressional primary races over the summer, Brad Lander and Micah Lasher, both joined congressmembers in criticizing the settlement. Lander accused Mount Sinai of 'capitulating with this settlement,' which he said violates New York's human rights law, while Lasher said he was 'disappointed to see Mount Sinai go along with it rather than stand by the young people who trusted them.'