Legal Group Seeks Evidence on Claims Related to Trump’s Gender Reassignment Order

A legal organization connected to former President Trump has initiated records requests aimed at uncovering claims of “harm” that certain Democratic states attribute to an executive order he issued on his first day in office which prohibits gender reassignment for minors.

Interestingly, these states have either not responded to the requests or have stated they could not provide records detailing the alleged harms cited in ongoing lawsuits. This all follows a lawsuit filed by Josh Shapiro, the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, along with 15 other states and the District of Columbia, against Trump and the Department of Justice regarding the executive order issued on August 1. Following this, America First Legal submitted requests for records from the states involved in the lawsuit to evaluate the veracity of the claims of injury. So far, only three states—Massachusetts, Illinois, and Nevada—have responded, but their replies indicated that no records were available concerning the issues specified in the request.

“The states challenging the Trump administration seem to lack concrete evidence of the actual harm they allege,” said Dan Epstein, who is the vice president of legal affairs at America First. “The executive order aims to safeguard minors from irreversible physical damage. Protecting children should transcend politics.”

California’s Ban on Parent Notification Found to Breach Federal Law

Although a nationwide preliminary injunction came swiftly after Trump’s order banning gender reassignment surgeries for individuals under 19, Epstein emphasized that plaintiffs must establish a clear “standing” in court to be considered for relief. He pointed out that simply filing the lawsuit early doesn’t lessen the necessity to demonstrate this standing.

“For federal courts to grant relief, plaintiffs have to provide specific evidence of harm in their filings,” Epstein explained. “In this case, the complaint did not show any actual, traceable loss tied to the federal action, merely speculative claims or general concern. The urgency of their filing does not eliminate their obligation to prove standing.”

Attempts by Fox News Digital to contact the health departments and attorney general’s offices in Massachusetts, Illinois, and Nevada regarding the documentation used in the lawsuits against Trump’s executive orders were largely unsuccessful. In a case contesting Executive Order 14187, which prevents federal resources from being used for “transitioning” minors, the plaintiffs argue that this order fosters fear among transgender individuals and their caregivers, who only seek to provide necessary care.

Compliance Issues in Single-Sex Sports

America First Legal’s records requests aimed to gather proof that states experienced the claimed harms outlined in their complaints against Trump’s Executive Order 14187. This includes evidence of legal actions, penalties against healthcare providers, clinic closures, and a rise in mental health crises among transgender youth.

They also sought records related to the financial burdens of counseling and crisis services, deteriorating health conditions, and lapses in care obligations to minors. The group even requested internal communications regarding the executive order’s impact.

Out of the states contacted, only Massachusetts, Illinois, and Nevada responded to the requests. Massachusetts and Nevada reported no records related to the inquiries, while Illinois indicated no responses were available except for the final, broader request focusing on the order’s official backing and references to “form impact.”

Documents from the Illinois Department of Public Health revealed notifications to staff indicating that funds were not to be used for services that contradicted Trump’s order, alongside advisories to grant recipients about potential new costs incurred due to the executive order’s implications.

Furthermore, Illinois documentation included concerns raised by a director at a nonprofit health organization over difficulties in registering new clients, as asking for gender identity or preferred pronouns—required for their database—was now prohibited. This could significantly affect services to clients dependent on these registrations.

Efforts Continue to Uncover Evidence

Fox News Digital, while seeking comments on the claims of lack of evidence in the AFL’s accusations, received little engagement from the state offices, except a referral from Massachusetts’ Public Health Department to the Attorney General’s Office.

The AFL has hinted at previously exposing other states’ inadequacies in substantiating their cases against the Trump administration. They noted that states like Colorado, Rhode Island, Hawaii, and Arizona failed to provide necessary evidence for injury claims made in their own lawsuits.

The legal challenges to Trump’s Executive Order 14187 continue, with another lawsuit led by New York’s Attorney General Letitia James, which contends that it constitutes discrimination.