The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has shifted its focus to transgender rights, raising concerns among experts and federal employees who spoke to WIRED. Since July 2025, the agency has been requesting documents from nonprofits that provide care to transgender people, using what are known as civil investigative demands (CIDs).

The investigations, spearheaded by Glenna Goldis, a former New York state assistant attorney general, are described as 'very strange' by a former FTC employee. Goldis claims she was fired for speaking out against pediatric gender medicine and hopes to bankrupt doctors.

These actions are seen as unusual, with the FTC typically targeting businesses over fake health products rather than nonprofits. The cost of fighting such investigations is high; Mila Becker from the Endocrine Society estimates costs could exceed $500,000.

The choice of targets raises questions about the broader goals of these investigations. Luke Herrine, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama, suggests that by targeting standard setters, the FTC may be trying to delegitimize the entire field of trans healthcare.