A federal court is being asked to intervene in a legal battle as families of transgender children challenge President Donald Trump’s directive to terminate all federal funding and support for healthcare aiding gender transitions for individuals under the age of 19. Represented by Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union, the families filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in a Maryland federal court, claiming that the directive unfairly discriminates against transgender individuals and exceeds the president’s authority.
The lawsuit alleges that due to the directive, hospitals nationwide have started canceling appointments for gender transition treatments. Families claim that their appointments were recently canceled by various hospitals, including 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. These hospitals are not named as defendants in the case.
In his order issued on January 28, Trump stated that the United States would not support gender transitions for minors and would enforce laws prohibiting such procedures. The specifics of how the order will be implemented remain unclear.
The directive instructed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to put an end to children undergoing what it termed as “chemical and surgical mutilation.” This could entail imposing conditions on healthcare providers receiving federal funds, a category that includes almost all hospitals.
The lawsuit describes the order as part of a broader assault by President Trump on ‘gender ideology’ and transgender communities, following previous executive actions targeting transgender individuals in the military and questioning gender identity. The ban on transgender individuals in the military has already faced legal challenges, while the government’s refusal to recognize gender identity beyond biological classification has been contested by transgender women in federal prisons.
The order affects treatments like puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery for individuals under 19 seeking gender transition, commonly referred to as gender-affirming care. While some states have enacted laws prohibiting such care for minors, legal battles are ongoing in various jurisdictions, including a challenge in the U.S. Supreme Court regarding Tennessee’s ban.
The Biden administration, in contrast, has expressed support for access to puberty blockers and hormones (excluding surgery) for transgender minors. It also introduced a rule prohibiting discrimination against transgender individuals in healthcare, which was halted by a court ruling last year. Health experts stress that gender-affirming care is crucial for preventing suicide and improving mental health, a stance echoed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The European Academy of Paediatrics has urged for further investigation, while a government-backed review in England has determined that the current evidence regarding youth gender care is lacking. This information was reported by Brendan Pierson in New York and edited by Alexia Garamfalvi, Michael Perry, and Leslie Adler.
