Judge Blocks Trump’s Orders Restricting Gender-Affirming Care

(TJV) A federal judge appointed by President Biden has temporarily blocked key provisions of two executive orders issued by former President Trump that sought to restrict or ban various forms of gender-affirming care. One of the orders was titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.”

U.S. District Judge Brendan Hurson of Baltimore ruled in favor of a group of transgender teens and LGBTQ advocacy organizations, stating they were likely to succeed in their lawsuit. The groups argued that the orders exceeded executive authority and amounted to unconstitutional discrimination.

“Stopping care in the middle of receiving it, any care, really, casts doubt on whether in fact the goals are to protect the recipients of the care,” Hurson remarked in his ruling.

As a result of the decision, federal agencies are now temporarily barred from withholding or conditioning funding based on whether a healthcare facility provides gender-affirming care anywhere in the U.S.

The lawsuit was brought by transgender teens and advocacy groups PFLAG and GLMA, who claimed that hospitals nationwide had begun canceling appointments in response to Trump’s orders. The first executive order, signed on Trump’s first day in office, prohibited the use of federal funds to promote “gender ideology.” A second order, signed on January 28, required that federally funded institutions refrain from providing gender-transition treatments for individuals under the age of 19.

During the hearing, ACLU attorney Joshua Block argued that the orders had immediate and harmful effects. The Department of Justice pushed back, claiming the lawsuit was premature and required further clarification. However, Judge Hurson dismissed that argument, calling it “disingenuous.”

“When there’s smoke coming out of your house, you don’t know what room it’s in, but you don’t wait to call 911 until you know the exact location of the fire,” Hurson said, emphasizing that plaintiffs had already received calls canceling their care.

This ruling is the latest in a series of legal challenges against Trump’s executive actions. Other recent court orders have blocked measures limiting birthright citizenship and restricting transgender inmates from being housed in women’s prisons.

Additionally, on Thursday, a separate lawsuit was filed by a group of government employees aiming to prevent Elon Musk and Dogecoin (DOGE) from accessing sensitive federal data and removing employees unless Musk’s appointment is formally validated under the U.S. Constitution.