On Tuesday, families of transgender children filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking to block an executive order that halts federal funding for healthcare services supporting gender transitions for minors under 19. The lawsuit was filed in Maryland federal court, with the plaintiffs represented by Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), alongside LGBT advocacy group PFLAG.
The families claim that the order discriminates against transgender people and exceeds the president’s authority. They are requesting a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order to allow hospitals to resume gender-affirming care, such as puberty blockers, hormones, and sometimes surgeries. The White House did not provide a comment on the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs report that several hospitals have already begun canceling gender transition appointments, following the administration’s directive. These cancellations have affected hospitals like Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., NYU Langone in New York, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Children’s Hospital of Richmond in Virginia. However, the hospitals are not named as defendants in the lawsuit.
Kristen Chapman, one of the plaintiffs, relocated her family from Tennessee to Virginia in hopes of finding safer healthcare for her transgender daughter, Willow. Tennessee banned gender-affirming care in 2023, so Chapman sought care at Children’s Hospital of Richmond, where Willow’s Medicaid insurance was accepted. Just hours before the scheduled appointment in January, the hospital canceled, leaving the family in distress.
Chapman expressed frustration during a press conference, stating, “This is unfair to Willow, and it’s unfair for the thousands of families like ours.”
Some hospitals, like Children’s National, confirmed that they paused gender-affirming treatments due to the executive order. Other hospitals have yet to respond to requests for comments.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has condemned the order, asserting that withholding services from transgender individuals based on gender identity constitutes discrimination under New York state law.
In his January 28 order, President Trump declared that the U.S. government would not fund or support gender transitions for minors. The directive also instructed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to take necessary actions to prevent what Trump described as “destructive and life-altering procedures.” This may include imposing conditions on healthcare providers that accept federal funds.
While details of the order’s enforcement remain unclear and no formal regulations have been passed, hospitals are already fearing potential loss of funding, which has led them to halt treatments.
The lawsuit characterizes the order as part of a broader effort by Trump to target “gender ideology” and transgender people. This follows previous executive actions, such as the ban on transgender individuals in the military and the refusal to recognize gender identity beyond biological sex.
Republican-led states have passed laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors, though several have been blocked by courts. A case regarding Tennessee’s ban is currently pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, which could make a landmark decision on the legality of such bans nationwide.
The Biden administration, by contrast, supported access to gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and hormones, but not surgeries for minors. A rule banning healthcare discrimination against transgender individuals was blocked by a judge last year.
Medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics support gender-affirming care, citing its benefits in preventing suicide and improving mental health. However, some international health organizations, including the European Academy of Paediatrics, have called for more research, with a review in England concluding that the evidence for youth gender care remains limited.
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