A federal judge blocked parts of President Donald Trump’s executive order ending federal funding for transgender surgeries on minors.
U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson granted a temporary restraining order against Trump’s order, saying after a federal court hearing in Baltimore that transgender minors have an “extremely higher rate for suicide, poverty, unemployment, drug addiction.” Hurson claimed that ending their treatments would be “horribly dangerous for anyone, for any care, but particularly for this extremely vulnerable population.”
Trump’s executive order called for all federal agencies to “take all necessary steps, as permitted by law, to end the Federal funding of gender ideology.”
“Federal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology,” the order directs. “Each agency shall assess grant conditions and grantee preferences and ensure grant funds do not promote gender ideology.”
Following the executive order, several hospitals announced a suspension of “gender-affirming” surgeries for minors. Denver Health, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health and the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, and Children’s National Hospital in D.C. issued statements on the matter.
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a warning to hospitals considering ending the practice, stating that discontinuing “gender-affirming care” for individuals under 19 in response to Trump’s order would violate state law.
James informed healthcare facilities that New York’s anti-discrimination laws require them to continue offering these services, regardless of any federal funding changes. She emphasized that hospitals refusing care to transgender minors could face legal consequences under state law. “Regardless of the availability of federal funding, we write to further remind you of your obligations to comply with New York State laws,” she wrote.
