NYC Allocates $2 Million Emergency Fund for Transgender and Nonbinary Organizations Amid Federal Cuts

New York City officials unveiled a $2 million emergency funding program on Tuesday to bolster organizations providing essential services to transgender, gender non-conforming, and nonbinary New Yorkers. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will oversee distribution to approximately 20 community-based organizations, each eligible for up to $92,000 to cover staff, travel, supplies, and services. Priority goes to groups where the majority of clients identify as transgender, gender non-conforming, or nonbinary, focusing on health and wellness, legal advocacy, youth and family support, safety and crisis response, community building, and economic empowerment.

This city initiative emerges against a backdrop of aggressive federal actions under the Trump administration curtailing support for LGBTQ+ services. Early in 2025, President Donald Trump issued executive orders targeting funding for organizations serving transgender individuals or engaging in equity-related work, prompting warnings from federal agencies to nonprofits. In February, Lambda Legal secured a court order restoring $6 million to nine nonprofits aiding LGBTQ+ people and those living with HIV following a lawsuit. By September, the administration canceled approximately $36 million in city funding as retaliation for local policies protecting transgender individuals, leading New York City to file a lawsuit. Most recently, proposed rules would bar Medicare and Medicaid providers from offering gender-affirming care to youth, exacerbating barriers to care.

The timing of the announcement—with less than 48 hours left in Mayor Eric Adams' term—underscores its urgency as an outgoing administration effort to mitigate these impacts. CitizensNYC, a nonprofit streamlining city grants, is partnering to expedite applications, though final awards rest with the city.

Mayor Adams stated, “We are putting our money where our values are and stepping up to serve those who need our care.” First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro added, “We saw a need after federal budget cuts, and we are responding to it. There are essential services at stake for this community. Therefore, it was an imperative for us to take action and fill that need.” DOHMH Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse called federal attacks on transgender and gender non-conforming individuals “unconscionable,” affirming, “Supporting New York’s community organizations that provide lifesaving services and are eligible for the emergency funds is a key part of the Health Department’s commitment to supporting the health and well-being of all New Yorkers.”

The fund prioritizes organizations led and staffed by transgender, gender non-conforming, and nonbinary people, ensuring culturally responsive services across all five boroughs. DOHMH's NYC Health Map serves as an online directory of LGBTQ+-knowledgeable providers for primary care, sexual health, and gender-affirming services.

Organizations must submit applications by January 5, 2026, at 5 p.m., with funds aimed at sustaining and expanding access to affirming care amid ongoing challenges. This comes roughly three months after Mayor Adams faced criticism for comments opposing trans-inclusive bathroom policies, though he later acknowledged limited authority to alter them.

LGBTQ+ advocates view the funding as a vital stopgap, preserving services like crisis response and youth support that federal cuts have threatened. By empowering community-led groups, the program fosters resilience for transgender and nonbinary New Yorkers navigating heightened national scrutiny.