A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s nationwide effort to cut funding for hospitals providing gender transition treatments to minors, setting the stage for a protracted legal battle over children’s healthcare rights.
Quick Takes
- Judge Brendan A. Hurson issued a preliminary injunction blocking Trump’s executive orders aimed at withholding federal funds from hospitals providing gender transition treatments to those under 19.
- President Trump has called for Congress to pass a bill permanently banning and criminalizing gender transition procedures for minors.
- Over two dozen Republican-led states have already enacted laws banning transgender procedures for minors.
- Senators Roger Marshall and Josh Hawley have proposed legislation to restrict transgender procedures on children nationwide.
- The case was brought by six transgender individuals aged 12 to 18, along with parents and advocacy groups who argued their access to treatment was threatened.
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Funding Restrictions
In a significant legal setback for the Trump administration, a federal judge in Baltimore has ruled to maintain federal funding for hospitals providing gender-transition treatments to individuals under 19 years of age. The preliminary injunction, issued by Judge Brendan A. Hurson, who was appointed by President Biden, expands a previous decision that applied to only four states. This ruling effectively pauses nationwide the Trump administration’s efforts to withhold funds from hospitals unless they cease providing such treatments to transgender youths—a move that had already caused some clinics to cancel appointments.
The case was brought by six transgender individuals aged 12 to 18, along with parents and advocacy groups from Maryland, New York, and Massachusetts. The plaintiffs argued that their access to treatment was threatened by two Trump executive orders aimed at limiting federal support for youth gender medicine. One executive order directed federal agencies to ensure grant funding does not support what the administration termed “gender ideology,” while the other aimed to withhold funds from providers offering gender-transition treatments to those under 19.
"We are getting wokeness OUT of our schools & military. We will pass bill criminalizing sex changes on children & forever end the lie that they are trapped in the wrong body"
Trump rattled both wokes & liberals with just one statement 😂🔥 pic.twitter.com/S8ki599cyg
— BALA (@erbmjha) March 5, 2025
Trump’s Push for Congressional Action
President Donald Trump has been vocal about his opposition to gender transition procedures for minors, calling for Congress to pass legislation that would criminalize such interventions nationwide. Trump has already signed executive orders to cut federal funding for schools and institutions promoting gender ideology and transgender procedures on children stating, “I also signed an order to cut off all taxpayer funding to any institution that engages in the sexual mutilation of our youth, And now I want Congress to pass a bill permanently banning and criminalizing sex changes on children and forever ending the lie that any child is trapped in the wrong body.”. These actions align with his consistent message that children should be accepted as they are without medical interventions aimed at gender transition.
The executive orders signed by Trump prohibit government funding or support for gender transition attempts in children and enforce laws against such procedures. These actions have received support from Republican lawmakers who have been pursuing similar legislative efforts at the state level. Currently, over two dozen Republican-led states have enacted laws banning transgender procedures for minors, reflecting a growing movement to restrict these medical interventions for young people.
Legislative Efforts in Congress
In Congress, Senators Roger Marshall and Josh Hawley have proposed legislation to restrict transgender procedures on children nationwide. Senator Hawley introduced a bill that would allow children who have been harmed by transgender procedures to sue the doctors and hospitals responsible for those interventions. This bill follows Trump’s executive order blocking federal funding for hospitals performing transgender procedures on minors, creating a potential legal pathway for affected individuals to seek redress.
The injunction issued by Judge Hurson indicates significant legal challenges ahead for the government to implement the executive orders. The judge found that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed in their claims that the orders violate laws against sex discrimination and the Fifth Amendment’s equal protection guarantees. This legal battle highlights the deep national divide over how to approach transgender care for minors, with profound implications for healthcare policy, parental rights, and children’s wellbeing.
Sources:
Judge Blocks Trump Orders to Stop Funds for Trans Youth Health Providers
Trump Calls For Congress To Pass Bill To End The ‘Sexual Mutilation’ Of Kids
