Federal judge extends nationwide block on Trump's orders restricting transgender health care
Shreedhar Rathi | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Mar 05, 2025, 15:49 IST
( Image credit : AP )
A federal judge has extended a nationwide injunction blocking President Trump’s executive orders aimed at cutting federal funding for gender-affirming health care for transgender minors. Judge Hurson’s ruling ensures these orders remain unenforceable while legal proceedings continue. The Trump administration is expected to appeal, adding to the ongoing legal battles over policy rollbacks targeting various issues.
The decision, handed down by U.S. District Judge Brendan Hurson in Baltimore, comes in response to a lawsuit filed earlier this month by families with transgender or nonbinary children. These families argue that their access to essential health care services has already been disrupted by Trump’s executive actions. The lawsuit is backed by a national LGBTQ+ family advocacy group and a medical organization, further emphasizing the widespread concern over the potential consequences of these policies.
Judge Hurson’s preliminary injunction ensures that the administration’s orders remain unenforceable while legal proceedings continue. However, the Trump administration is expected to appeal the ruling. In the immediate aftermath of Trump’s order, several hospitals across the country paused gender-affirming care for minors to avoid losing federal funding, exacerbating the anxiety and uncertainty faced by affected families.
This ruling is one of many legal battles arising from Trump’s extensive list of executive orders. Since returning to office, Trump has aggressively pursued policy rollbacks targeting a range of issues, including immigration, environmental protections, and civil rights measures implemented under Biden. More than 100 lawsuits have been filed to challenge these sweeping policy changes.
In addition to the Baltimore ruling, a separate legal challenge led by a coalition of Democratic-led states resulted in another federal judge in Seattle blocking the enforcement of Trump’s orders in four states. These legal obstacles suggest that the administration will face significant hurdles in its broader effort to reshape federal policies regarding transgender rights and health care access.
The debate over gender-affirming care for minors has become a highly contentious issue in American politics, drawing sharp divisions between conservative policymakers and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. Proponents of the restrictions argue that medical interventions for transgender youth should be limited, while opponents stress that such care is essential for the well-being and mental health of transgender individuals.
As legal challenges continue, the future of gender-affirming health care in the United States remains uncertain. With courts weighing the legality of Trump’s executive orders, families, medical professionals, and advocacy groups are left in limbo, awaiting final judicial decisions that will determine the accessibility of critical health care services for transgender youth.