What's more, she is warning these facilities that they may be in violation of New York anti-discrimination laws if they comply with the president's order. But there's a complication: Her warning may cost New York state healthcare system billions in federal subsidies. Has she a plan to deal with that eventuality? If she does, it probably involves lawyers.

Her warning was sent to New York healthcare facilities on Monday.

New York Attorney General Letitia James warned local hospitals Monday that they will be in violation of state discrimination laws if they comply with President Trump’s executive order aimed at outlawing sex-change procedures for minors.

“Regardless of the availability of federal funding, we write to further remind you of your obligations to comply with New York State laws, including those that prohibit discrimination against individuals based on their membership in a protected class, such as sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, military status, disability, or marital status,” James wrote in a letter to New York health care facilities.

“Electing to refuse services to a class of individuals based on their protected status, such as withholding the availability of services from transgender individuals based on their gender identity or their diagnosis of gender dysphoria, while offering such services to cisgender individuals, is discrimination under New York law,” she added.

It could also be expensive. Numbers vary, and it's difficult to find a total figure, which in and of itself is reason to be skeptical, but last September, Governor Kathy Hochul bragged of the Empire State's receiving $10 billion from the Biden administration to help provide healthcare to New Yorkers. Trump's executive order would halt all federal payments to healthcare providers who defy his order and continue these practices on minors.

Some providers are already moving to comply. They have little to gain by defiance.

Her letter comes as several hospitals across the country have already taken steps to cut back on so-called “gender-affirming care” in an apparent effort to comply with Trump’s Jan. 28 executive order “protecting children from chemical and surgical mutilation.”

The use of scare quotes may or may not be intentional, but there's no need for them. These treatments are accurately described as chemical and surgical mutilation. It's unthinkable that a physician would find no ethical problem with cutting into or chemically treating healthy, normal bodies, but some will. While adults can make their own decisions, restricting these practices to adults is not only reasonable but necessary.

The order is already having the desired effect.

The order threatens to withhold federal funding from hospitals that provide sex-change treatment, like puberty blockers and hormone therapy, to people under the age of 19.

“It’s already having its intended effect — preventing children from being maimed and sterilized by adults perpetuating a radical, false claim that they can somehow change a child’s sex,” the White House said in a statement Monday, highlighting hospitals in Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, DC, that are reportedly pursuing action to “downsize or eliminate” transgender programs.

The White House also pointed to New York City’s NYU Langone Health, which has reportedly started canceling appointments for minors seeking transgender procedures.

These are — for the millionth time — children. They can't sign contracts, can't join the military, can't (in most places) get married, can't buy a bottle of beer or a firearm, and can't vote — they can't even get a tattoo. But people like Letitia James think they should be able to decide to have permanent, life-altering, irreversible treatments that will require constant medical intervention for the rest of their lives. It's unethical, it's harmful, and there is literally nothing good that can come from subjecting children to these treatments. When they are adults, they can make up their minds. But not as children; children lack the experience, wisdom, perspective, and judgment to decide things like this for themselves. 

These are facts.

Here's the rub: Is it really these kids making these decisions? In some circles, it seems that having a "transgender kid" is some kind of sick status symbol. Munchausen-by-proxy is a thing, too. In some, at least, of these cases, this is very likely what is going on.

It reminds one of the old gag about finding out someone has what they claim is a "vegan cat." The cat may be eating a vegan diet — but you know that it wasn't the cat's decision.

See Related: Do We Have a Transgender Violence Problem?

Former College Swim Stars Push for Passage of Georgia Transgender Athlete Law

Speaking of Langone Health:

The New York Times reported that two different families seeking to implant their 12-year-olds with a device that dispenses puberty blockers had their appointments at NYU Langone Health “abruptly canceled following the executive order.” 

NYU Langone Health did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment. 

You don't say.