by WorldTribune Staff / 247 Real News June 26, 2026
Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s socialist mayor, has set up what his office calls a “direct care access fund” to subsidize trans surgeries for children and adults.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani
The mayor’s office framed the $15 million taxpayer-funded move as a defense against the Trump Administration, which has taken extensive action to ban federal taxpayer funding and insurance coverage for trans surgeries and related treatments for minors.
Mamdani moved to subsidize providers who offer sex change procedures for children, and launch a dedicated call and text line, as well as fund research into LGBT healthcare access.
The socialist mayor accused President Donald Trump’s team of attempting to “intimidate patients, families and providers,” claiming the city is “stepping up” and will do “everything in our power to defend” the procedures.
Mamdani has directed the city’s law department to prepare for potential litigation to fight any federal efforts to restrict trans surgeries for children.
In New York City, the $15 million for the fund is still not enough for some.
City Council member Tiffany Caban is pressuring Mamdani’s office to increase the trans surgery budget to $60 million, according to a report from the Daily News.
“We got money for 500 more cops in the executive budget, but we don’t have money for healthcare and trans kids,” Caban said.
City Budget Director Sherif Soliman called the $15 million allocation a “start.”
Additionally, the city’s health department will launch a pilot program later this year at a Queens clinic to offer “gender-affirming hormone therapy” to adults at “no or low cost and regardless of immigration status.”
