Theresa Gaffney
@theresagaff.bsky.social
reporter, newsletter writer, & Guild member at STAT
theresa.gaffney@statnews.com
Signal: theresagaff.97
she / her
theresa.gaffney@statnews.com
Signal: theresagaff.97
she / her
Pinned
Theresa Gaffney
@theresagaff.bsky.social
· Dec 23
I wrote about gender-affirming surgery — what it means to the people that get it, its evolution as a professional specialty in the U.S., and how the incoming administration could put all of that at risk: www.statnews.com/2024/12/23/g...
19 states are suing HHS over last week's gender-affirming care crackdown — particularly Kennedy's declaration. Chelsea has the details: www.statnews.com/2025/12/24/g...
Nineteen states, D.C. sue HHS over gender-affirming care crackdown
Democratic-led states and D.C. have sued HHS, calling an RFK Jr. declaration that rejected gender-affirming care an overreach of its authority.
www.statnews.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:22 PM
19 states are suing HHS over last week's gender-affirming care crackdown — particularly Kennedy's declaration. Chelsea has the details: www.statnews.com/2025/12/24/g...
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
NEW: Many Democratic Senators said they hadn't seen Marjorie Taylor Greene's anti-trans bill and didn't say if it would fail. The only one who gave a hard commitment? Greene's fellow Georgian Raphael Warnock.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Democratic senators balk on vote against Marjorie Taylor Greene’s anti-trans bill
The bill would need seven Democratic senators to join Republicans
www.independent.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 7:25 PM
NEW: Many Democratic Senators said they hadn't seen Marjorie Taylor Greene's anti-trans bill and didn't say if it would fail. The only one who gave a hard commitment? Greene's fellow Georgian Raphael Warnock.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
We updated this story with some insights from lawyers and policy experts on whether or not CMS has the legal authority to do this, what challenges to the rules may look like, and when those challenges can happen. Take a read:
December 18, 2025 at 8:35 PM
We updated this story with some insights from lawyers and policy experts on whether or not CMS has the legal authority to do this, what challenges to the rules may look like, and when those challenges can happen. Take a read:
BREAKING: Trump admin officially proposes new CMS rules to restrict trans health care for young people, including one that would change the conditions for hospitals to participate in Medicare/Medicaid by barring those that offer gender-affirming care to minors.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/18/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/18/t...
In major effort to end gender-affirming care, Trump administration takes aim at hospitals
The Trump administration intends to make its most forceful attempt yet at restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youth in the U.S.
www.statnews.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:54 PM
BREAKING: Trump admin officially proposes new CMS rules to restrict trans health care for young people, including one that would change the conditions for hospitals to participate in Medicare/Medicaid by barring those that offer gender-affirming care to minors.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/18/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/18/t...
Marjorie Taylor Greene's bill prohibiting gender-affirming care for young trans people has passed the House. Story updated:
Republicans in Congress are making a renewed push before the end of the year to pass major federal restrictions to gender-affirming care for trans minors. There will likely be one vote today, and more to come before the end of the week: www.statnews.com/2025/12/17/h...
House set to vote on bills to ban gender-affirming care for young people
It's the latest effort by GOP lawmakers and President Trump to restrict care for transgender youth.
www.statnews.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Marjorie Taylor Greene's bill prohibiting gender-affirming care for young trans people has passed the House. Story updated:
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
The House is planning to vote on two bills to ban gender-affirming health care for children. I followed a doctor and a nurse as they visited lawmakers yesterday to urge them to vote no:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Health workers decry hasty House bills to ban gender-affirming care for children: ‘They hurt people’
Two bills mark the first time Congress has voted over national care bans and an escalation of anti-trans rhetoric
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:03 PM
The House is planning to vote on two bills to ban gender-affirming health care for children. I followed a doctor and a nurse as they visited lawmakers yesterday to urge them to vote no:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Republicans in Congress are making a renewed push before the end of the year to pass major federal restrictions to gender-affirming care for trans minors. There will likely be one vote today, and more to come before the end of the week: www.statnews.com/2025/12/17/h...
House set to vote on bills to ban gender-affirming care for young people
It's the latest effort by GOP lawmakers and President Trump to restrict care for transgender youth.
www.statnews.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Republicans in Congress are making a renewed push before the end of the year to pass major federal restrictions to gender-affirming care for trans minors. There will likely be one vote today, and more to come before the end of the week: www.statnews.com/2025/12/17/h...
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
Amid talk of a brain drain, some scientists leave U.S. behind www.statnews.com/2025/12/17/r...
Amid talk of a brain drain, some scientists leave U.S. behind
“A large part of what we loved about the United States is no longer there”: Amid talk of a brain drain, some scientists leave the U.S. behind.
www.statnews.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Amid talk of a brain drain, some scientists leave U.S. behind www.statnews.com/2025/12/17/r...
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
The FDA is interested in changing testosterone’s label as a drug with a higher risk of abuse and physical dependence, to help cisgender men more easily access it.
What about trans men, you ask? Well, the FDA didn't, but we did!
What about trans men, you ask? Well, the FDA didn't, but we did!
There’s a testosterone crisis, the FDA says — for cisgender men
The government disapproves of the hormone for transgender people but is enthusiastic about what it could do for cisgender men.
19thnews.org
December 12, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The FDA is interested in changing testosterone’s label as a drug with a higher risk of abuse and physical dependence, to help cisgender men more easily access it.
What about trans men, you ask? Well, the FDA didn't, but we did!
What about trans men, you ask? Well, the FDA didn't, but we did!
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
This week's installments to our American Science, Shattered series @statnews.com include a check-in with scientists, federal workers, policy experts, and patients whose stories we brought you earlier this year.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/a...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/a...
Postscripts from the frontlines of Trump's attacks on science: no simple happy endings
Stories from the frontlines of Trump's attack on science: Follow-ups from a year of struggles in Part 7 of our series "American Science, Shattered."
www.statnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:17 PM
This week's installments to our American Science, Shattered series @statnews.com include a check-in with scientists, federal workers, policy experts, and patients whose stories we brought you earlier this year.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/a...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/a...
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
A look from @theresagaff.bsky.social at how early-career trans and nonbinary researchers are dealing with lost funding and more generally ~the state of things~
Early-career trans researchers reconsider their futures amid lost funding and fear
The chaos created by the freezing and termination of billions of dollars of research grants has left trans academics especially vulnerable.
www.statnews.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:47 PM
A look from @theresagaff.bsky.social at how early-career trans and nonbinary researchers are dealing with lost funding and more generally ~the state of things~
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
Sharing an identity w/ study participants, health equity awards, widely read papers — all positives in the past
But this year, they're being weaponized against trans researchers
@theresagaff.bsky.social w/ the next part of American Science, Shattered
www.statnews.com/2025/12/09/h...
But this year, they're being weaponized against trans researchers
@theresagaff.bsky.social w/ the next part of American Science, Shattered
www.statnews.com/2025/12/09/h...
Early-career trans researchers reconsider their futures amid lost funding and fear
The chaos created by the freezing and termination of billions of dollars of research grants has left trans academics especially vulnerable.
www.statnews.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Sharing an identity w/ study participants, health equity awards, widely read papers — all positives in the past
But this year, they're being weaponized against trans researchers
@theresagaff.bsky.social w/ the next part of American Science, Shattered
www.statnews.com/2025/12/09/h...
But this year, they're being weaponized against trans researchers
@theresagaff.bsky.social w/ the next part of American Science, Shattered
www.statnews.com/2025/12/09/h...
If you've kept up with STAT's reporting this year, you know how big an impact federal funding cuts have had on research. But trans scholars in particular have had to pivot research topics, delay job searches and career advancements, limit travel — and at times have been fearful for their own safety.
December 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
If you've kept up with STAT's reporting this year, you know how big an impact federal funding cuts have had on research. But trans scholars in particular have had to pivot research topics, delay job searches and career advancements, limit travel — and at times have been fearful for their own safety.
There are five great stories up for this series so far, all recounting the experiences of real people whose work and lives have been impacted by the Trump administration's interference. As one scientist told Anil: "I think everyone has their own horror story." Take a look.
Stay tuned for further installments of American Science, Shattered (and catch up on any of the stories you have missed so far!)
www.statnews.com/american-sci...
www.statnews.com/american-sci...
American Science, Shattered
An eight-decade partnership between universities and the federal government made U.S. science preeminent. It took Trump less than a year to shred that
www.statnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
There are five great stories up for this series so far, all recounting the experiences of real people whose work and lives have been impacted by the Trump administration's interference. As one scientist told Anil: "I think everyone has their own horror story." Take a look.
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
“The only reason I don’t have this funding is because my last name is Rodriguez.”
MOSAIC checked many of the boxes of the administration — but that didn't matter. It was terminated, and left grantees scrambling
Next installment of American Science, Shattered:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/08/t...
MOSAIC checked many of the boxes of the administration — but that didn't matter. It was terminated, and left grantees scrambling
Next installment of American Science, Shattered:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/08/t...
NIH shut out hundreds of young scientists from funding to start their own labs
Special Report: The NIH has shut out hundreds of young scientists from funding to start their own labs.
www.statnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:51 PM
“The only reason I don’t have this funding is because my last name is Rodriguez.”
MOSAIC checked many of the boxes of the administration — but that didn't matter. It was terminated, and left grantees scrambling
Next installment of American Science, Shattered:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/08/t...
MOSAIC checked many of the boxes of the administration — but that didn't matter. It was terminated, and left grantees scrambling
Next installment of American Science, Shattered:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/08/t...
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
For Brittney Dockery, working as a lab tech was a dream job, despite the low pay. But she now staffs an IT help desk after funding uncertainty pushed her out of science. Experts worry more will follow due to Trump administration policies. My latest for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/r...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/r...
Working with monkeys was this lab tech’s dream job. Now she’s staffing an IT help desk
Trump’s reshaping of science has fueled fears researchers will leave the U.S. This lab tech's story shows it can drive people out of science altogether.
www.statnews.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:40 PM
For Brittney Dockery, working as a lab tech was a dream job, despite the low pay. But she now staffs an IT help desk after funding uncertainty pushed her out of science. Experts worry more will follow due to Trump administration policies. My latest for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/r...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/r...
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
I know there's a lot of news but if you can tear yourself away from the CDC vaccine committee today — you should really read this series on how the Trump administration has upended science in just 10 months, from my incredibly talented colleagues:
www.statnews.com/american-sci...
www.statnews.com/american-sci...
American Science, Shattered
An eight-decade partnership between universities and the federal government made U.S. science preeminent. It took Trump less than a year to shred that
www.statnews.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I know there's a lot of news but if you can tear yourself away from the CDC vaccine committee today — you should really read this series on how the Trump administration has upended science in just 10 months, from my incredibly talented colleagues:
www.statnews.com/american-sci...
www.statnews.com/american-sci...
I talked with former high-ranking CDC official Demetre Daskalakis about his surprising next moves after resigning from the agency this summer: "My ability to help the community is best served closer to the ground.” www.statnews.com/2025/12/03/f...
Former CDC official returns to local health care after resigning
Former CDC official Demetre Daskalakis is taking his skills back to New York, where they were honed in HIV clinics and the city health department
www.statnews.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I talked with former high-ranking CDC official Demetre Daskalakis about his surprising next moves after resigning from the agency this summer: "My ability to help the community is best served closer to the ground.” www.statnews.com/2025/12/03/f...
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
BREAKING scoop: Top drug regulator Rick Pazdur filed papers to retire from the FDA at the end of this month, according to agency sources. He alerted leaders at the drug center this morning. He could still withdraw the papers. www.statnews.com/2025/12/02/r...
Top drug regulator Richard Pazdur set to leave FDA
Top drug regulator Richard Pazdur filed papers to retire from the Food and Drug Administration at the end of this month, but could withdraw them.
www.statnews.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:10 PM
BREAKING scoop: Top drug regulator Rick Pazdur filed papers to retire from the FDA at the end of this month, according to agency sources. He alerted leaders at the drug center this morning. He could still withdraw the papers. www.statnews.com/2025/12/02/r...
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
Multiple judges call out DOJ's methods of defending its invasive trans care subpoenas.
A must-read report on both the Trump administration’s attacks on trans people and DOJ’s continued descent with AG Pam Bondi at the helm.
A must-read report on both the Trump administration’s attacks on trans people and DOJ’s continued descent with AG Pam Bondi at the helm.
Multiple judges call out DOJ's methods of defending its invasive trans care subpoenas
A trio of public rulings, including one on Friday, all side with providers. Two rulings also raised sharp questions about DOJ's moves in recent months.
www.lawdork.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Multiple judges call out DOJ's methods of defending its invasive trans care subpoenas.
A must-read report on both the Trump administration’s attacks on trans people and DOJ’s continued descent with AG Pam Bondi at the helm.
A must-read report on both the Trump administration’s attacks on trans people and DOJ’s continued descent with AG Pam Bondi at the helm.
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
Men seeking testosterone therapy to treat symptoms like fatigue and low libido find that doctors don't take their problems seriously. That's sent them to flocking to online men's health clinics with minimal oversight, reports @missanabeem.bsky.social:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/o...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/o...
Why men are flocking to dubious online clinics for testosterone therapy
The proliferation of online testosterone sites is a sign of the health care system’s lack of regard for male sexual hormones and their role in health
www.statnews.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Men seeking testosterone therapy to treat symptoms like fatigue and low libido find that doctors don't take their problems seriously. That's sent them to flocking to online men's health clinics with minimal oversight, reports @missanabeem.bsky.social:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/o...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/o...
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
I’ve spent a lot of the last three years investigating the rise of anti-trans politics. Often, it came back to the controversy over trans women athletes.
So I teamed up with @pablo.show to look into the leading figure on the issue: Riley Gaines.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202... 1/
So I teamed up with @pablo.show to look into the leading figure on the issue: Riley Gaines.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202... 1/
How right-wing superstar Riley Gaines built an anti-trans empire
The swimmer tied a trans woman for fifth. The MAGA industrial complex took care of the rest.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:25 PM
I’ve spent a lot of the last three years investigating the rise of anti-trans politics. Often, it came back to the controversy over trans women athletes.
So I teamed up with @pablo.show to look into the leading figure on the issue: Riley Gaines.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202... 1/
So I teamed up with @pablo.show to look into the leading figure on the issue: Riley Gaines.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202... 1/
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
Kudos to @theresagaff.bsky.social and Annalisa Merelli at @statnews.com for banging out this detailed analysis today: www.statnews.com/2025/11/19/h...
HHS names authors and releases peer-review comments for gender dysphoria report
The new report reveals that many of the authors and reviewers have been outspoken critics of gender-affirming care and belong to anti-LGBTQ+ groups
www.statnews.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Kudos to @theresagaff.bsky.social and Annalisa Merelli at @statnews.com for banging out this detailed analysis today: www.statnews.com/2025/11/19/h...
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
We finally know the identities of the 9 anonymous authors of the May HHS report on pediatric gender-affirming care. Surprise! It's stacked with people who make money advocating against pediatric gender-affirming care.
Here's our writeup from May: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Here's our writeup from May: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
November 19, 2025 at 6:17 PM
We finally know the identities of the 9 anonymous authors of the May HHS report on pediatric gender-affirming care. Surprise! It's stacked with people who make money advocating against pediatric gender-affirming care.
Here's our writeup from May: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Here's our writeup from May: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Theresa Gaffney
Offshift helps truckers build a healthy lifestyle to prevent or manage chronic disease. They can be effective, and yet digital health solutions like those often struggle with like low adoption and engagement, @katiepalmer.bsky.social reports:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/t... via @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/t... via @statnews.com
Many truck drivers don't live past 61. Could digital health help?
Many truck drivers don't live past 61. Could digital health help?
www.statnews.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Offshift helps truckers build a healthy lifestyle to prevent or manage chronic disease. They can be effective, and yet digital health solutions like those often struggle with like low adoption and engagement, @katiepalmer.bsky.social reports:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/t... via @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/t... via @statnews.com