A group of over a dozen Democratic attorneys announced a lawsuit on Friday against actions taken by President Trump’s administration that significantly limit access to gender-affirming healthcare for individuals under 19.
The suit was filed in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, targeting three specific directives. One of these is a Presidential Order from January 28 that aims to restrict federal support for gender-affirming care for minors, alongside instructions from Attorney General Pam Bondy and Deputy Attorney General Brett Schmate that further limit such provisions.
The lawsuit names Trump, Bondi, and the Department of Justice as defendants. As of now, neither the White House nor the Justice Department has provided comments on the case.
Notably, Bondi’s directives from April called for investigations and potential prosecutions related to transition-related care for minors, labeling it as genital mutilation. Shumate’s guidance instructed legal teams to prioritize enforcement actions against healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies involved in this area.
On the same day, the Attorney General stated that the Justice Department would take “positive action” to carry out Trump’s orders related to gender-affirming care. This follows a previous statement from the president declaring that the US recognizes only two genders. A federal judge in Baltimore had previously blocked an attempt to restrict grants to healthcare providers offering transition treatments to those under 19.
In July, the Justice Department reportedly issued over 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics involved in gender-affirming healthcare for minors, attempting to investigate healthcare fraud. The FBI also sought information on hospitals and providers managing transition-related surgeries for young patients.
“The federal government is launching a cruel, targeted harassment campaign against healthcare providers who are offering legal, life-saving care to children,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is leading the lawsuit. She noted that this administration is endangering the lives of young people who already face significant challenges in accessing help.
Several Democratic attorneys general from various states, including California, Connecticut, and Illinois, are also part of the lawsuit. Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro has joined as a plaintiff as well.
Other federal entities have also begun to implement Trump’s orders regarding gender-affirming care. For example, in May, the Department of Health and Human Services diverged from major health organizations by releasing a report questioning the scientific basis for using puberty blockers and hormones for adolescents, suggesting a focus on psychotherapy instead.
In a letter issued in late May, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged health providers to update treatment protocols in line with departmental reviews. Additionally, Mehmet Oz, managing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, requested data from hospitals regarding their gender-affirming care practices.
On Monday, the Federal Trade Commission initiated a public inquiry into whether healthcare providers for transgender individuals are violating consumer protection laws, following a workshop focused on the risks of gender-affirming care for minors.
“None of the actions taken by the administration that are challenged in this lawsuit have a legal basis,” the Democratic attorney general argued in court. “They should be deemed illegal and removed entirely.”
Across the nation, healthcare facilities are beginning to pause or halt care, even in states that typically support gender-affirming practices, citing uncertainties surrounding Trump’s executive orders and federal policies.
For instance, Denver Health has ceased gender-affirming surgeries for those under 19, and Uchealth is no longer prescribing puberty blockers or hormones to minors. In Illinois, several hospitals have suspended transition treatments for young patients. In New York, three major hospitals have also cut back on these services in light of Trump’s directives. In Washington, D.C., Children’s National Hospital recently announced a stop to prescribing gender-affirming medications due to escalating legal risks.
In July, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles shut its Transyouth Health and Development center, one of the oldest clinics for transgender youth in the U.S.
Kaiser Permanente, a prominent nonprofit health organization, announced that it would halt gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19 by the end of August, pointing to the changing “legal and regulatory environment.” This move was influenced by certain actions taken by the Trump administration, including subpoenas from the Department of Justice.
Kaiser’s California headquarters had previously supported gender-affirming care under a state law enacted in 2022 by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.
During a press conference, California Attorney General Rob Bonta affirmed the state’s protective stance following Kaiser’s announcements. He indicated that the focus would be on combatting threats to healthcare providers.
“The main issue here is an illegal and inappropriate threat from the Trump administration. They are trying to intimidate these hospitals,” Bonta stated. “We are addressing the risks originating from Washington, D.C. and the Trump administration.”
