HHS Sec. Becerra Says Gov’t Will Withhold Funds from Religious Hospitals that Refuse to Provide Sex-Change Operations for Young Children

MILLER: “Would you tell me today, can you commit here today that your department will not withhold federal funding from hospitals or doctors who refuse to provide the gender affirming care that you’re, you know, mandating if it violates their religious beliefs?”
Becerra: “So, now, congresswoman, recognize you’re going somewhere completely different. First you started talking about how a doctor should have the rights to not offer particular care. Then you stretch it out to provide for the system wide services that you support. Very different. Very different.”
MILLER: “You put out this guidance and doctors do need to know what are you going to do if they refuse to provide this care.”
Becerra: “A doctor, if that doctor has religious objections, that doctor, under these rules, is not required to offer this care.”
MILLER: “Okay, so you’re committing here today that you will not withhold federal funding — “
Becerra: “Doctors don’t get federal funding, ma’am.”
MILLER: “But the hospitals do.”
Becerra: “Okay, so now talk to me about the hospital. Don’t confuse the two.”
MILLER: “Okay.”
Becerra: “A doctor’s not a hospital.”
MILLER: “But the doctors are working in these hospitals. Are you gonna say today that you’re committing that you will not withhold federal funding from those healthcare facilities?”
Becerra: “If a healthcare facility is violating the law and not providing the service they’re required to, they are not entitled to resources.”
MILLER: “Okay. We knew that you would withdraw federal funding.”