Rachel Levine, the Assistant Secretary for the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) who identifies as transgender, is currently facing scrutiny over allegations of violating the department's scientific integrity policies.
The allegations stem from Levine's assertion that "gender-affirming care" is a "necessary" medical intervention for transgender youth.
The accusations against Levine are rooted in claims of politically motivated statements and misrepresentation of scientific evidence. These allegations were brought to light by Protect the Public's Trust, a watchdog group that filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the HHS.
The group sought to obtain scientific data supporting Levine's ongoing assertions that "gender-affirming care is medically necessary, safe, and effective for trans and non-binary youth," as reported by the Daily Wire.
In response to the request, the HHS was unable to provide substantial evidence. The department produced a single non-scientific document stating that "research demonstrates that gender-affirming care improves the mental health and overall well-being of gender-diverse children." The department also provided a brochure from its website echoing the same assertion.
The aforementioned claim is supported by a footnote referencing a single study. This study found that transgender youth receiving treatment reported a slightly lower rate of suicidal ideation (51%) compared to those desiring hormone therapy but not receiving it (62%). The brochure also states that hormone therapy is partially reversible and puberty blockers are completely reversible.
On Tuesday, Protect the Public's Trust called for the HHS Inspector General to initiate an open investigation into the matter. The group alleges that Levine is violating the department's scientific integrity policies by making politically motivated statements and misrepresenting scientific evidence, according to a complaint obtained by the Daily Wire.
The complaint letter states, "This suggests that Assistant Secretary Levine has constantly, continually, 'everywhere I go,' made unequivocal statements regarding the medical necessity, safety, and effectiveness of gender-affirming care based entirely upon a single two-page document."
The complaint further criticizes the HHS for providing only a single information sheet in response to the request for records of scientific evidence, studies, and/or data and for records of surveys of medical professionals to support these claims. The group argues that this approach contradicts science and evidence-based policymaking and violates the agencys pledge of adherence to professional practices, ethical behavior, and the principles of honesty and objectivity when conducting, managing, using the results of, and communicating about science and scientific activities.'
Michael Chamberlain, the director of Protect the Public's Trust, told the Daily Wire that the department's inability to substantiate its assertions with evidence is a key reason why "trust in government health officials has evaporated."
Chamberlain stated, "When we asked HHS to provide this data, all they offered was a single two-page information sheet with links to cherry-picked, often activist-generated research to justify irreversible and possibly dangerous measures."
Levine has consistently advocated for the importance of gender-affirming care for minors, also known as sex change treatments. Levine has previously stated to Reuters that "Gender-affirming care for transgender youth is essential," and to NPR that "There is no argument among medical professionalspediatricians, pediatric endocrinologists, adolescent medicine, physicians, adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, et ceteraabout the value and the importance of gender-affirming care."
The Daily Wire reports that the HHS also states on its website, without providing scientific evidence to back up its claims, that "At HHS, we listen to medical experts and doctors, and they agree with us, that access to affirming care for transgender youth is essential."
The watchdog group argues that these statements not only fail to acknowledge contrary evidence but assert that none exists. The group's letter states, "In spite of voluminous scientific evidence from around the world, as well as a growing number of policy decisions in other countries that run in the opposite direction, Adm. Levine has consistently made assertions indicating there is no data, studies, or evidence that contradicts or does not support these statements."
The group further argues that Levine has not only ignored the burgeoning controversy regarding the use of these treatments for minors but has declared that it simply does not exist. The group concludes, "It is difficult to imagine a more clear-cut case of an official violating HHSs scientific integrity policies and undermining the state of science in pursuit of a controversial policy agenda."
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