Judge Rejects Trump’s Bid to Curb Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth

This story was originally reported by The 19th.

A federal judge in Baltimore has issued a temporary restraining order that halts the Trump administration’s initiative to limit gender-affirming care for transgender individuals under 19. This decision, made by U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson, arrives amid reports that many hospitals and clinics across the country have ceased offering such care to trans minors.

The order was prompted by a lawsuit from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups filed earlier this month. Transgender youth and young adults from Maryland, New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia reported being suddenly denied access to gender-affirming treatments. Notably, in all those states, except Virginia, state law explicitly protects transgender healthcare.

Patients revealed they faced abrupt appointment cancellations for hormone treatments and puberty blockers, as well as barriers to routine check-ups. These disruptions began soon after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 28, which threatened federal funding for institutions providing gender-affirming care to minors.

The lawsuit highlights instances where reputable clinics, such as the Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., NYU Langone Health, and GeMS at Boston Children’s Hospital, turned away patients citing the administration’s new restrictions.

According to the Associated Press, Judge Hurson’s order is set to last for 14 days, with the potential for an extension as the case unfolds in federal court.

The Williams Institute at UCLA reports that trans youth reliant on Medicaid, Medicare, and other assistance programs are disproportionately affected by the executive order. An estimated 180,000 trans youth could face increased healthcare barriers as a result, particularly in states where their access was previously unrestricted.

The lawsuit, known as PFLAG v. Trump, critiques the administration’s broader campaign against transgender rights, pointing to multiple executive orders that target this community. It argues that these actions represent a significant threat to the existence and rights of trans individuals.

On Thursday, Judge Hurson echoed these concerns, stating that Trump’s order to restrict gender-affirming care appears to undermine the recognition and rights of transgender individuals. Concurrently, protests advocating for transgender youth are gaining momentum, with demonstrations occurring in cities like New York and Washington, D.C., against the executive order and related bans on drag performances.