A group of 19 Democratic-led states, along with Washington, D.C., has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a recent federal declaration aimed at limiting gender transition treatments for minors.
The legal action targets the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, its secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the agency’s inspector general. The lawsuit follows an HHS declaration issued last week that described puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender-related surgeries for minors as unsafe and ineffective.
Under the declaration, medical providers who continue offering such treatments to minors could face exclusion from federal health programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. The administration says the policy builds on President Donald Trump’s earlier executive order directing HHS to protect children from what the order described as irreversible medical interventions.
Kennedy said the administration is relying on scientific findings and federal authority to safeguard minors, adding that the department plans further regulatory actions to reinforce the policy.
State officials challenging the declaration argue that HHS exceeded its authority by issuing the policy without following required rulemaking procedures. They claim the declaration interferes with medical decision-making and pressures providers to discontinue care without proper public input or legal process.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is leading the lawsuit, said the federal government cannot unilaterally alter medical standards or threaten providers’ access to federal funding without due process.
The lawsuit does not directly address proposed federal rules that would further restrict funding for hospitals offering gender transition treatments to minors. Those proposals remain under review and have not yet taken legal effect.
The case was filed in federal court in Oregon and adds to the ongoing legal battles surrounding healthcare policy, states’ rights, and federal oversight of medical treatment for minors.
Post a Comment