A federal judge has extended an order preventing the Trump administration from withholding federal funds from medical providers offering gender-affirming care to transgender youth in four Democratic-led states.
U.S. District Judge Lauren King in Seattle ruled that Trump’s executive orders targeting providers in Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington were unconstitutional. She determined that they unlawfully interfered with Congress’ authority over federal funding and violated the Fifth Amendment’s equal protection clause by discriminating based on sex and transgender status.
One of Trump’s executive orders, issued on January 20, directed federal agencies to recognize only male and female as biologically distinct sexes and restrict funding for programs promoting "gender ideology." A second order on January 28 prohibited federal funding for gender-affirming treatments, including puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries for minors.
Judge King criticized the measures, stating they effectively sought to erase transgender identities from federal policies and block medical care for gender dysphoria. On February 14, she issued a temporary restraining order, which has now been extended into a preliminary injunction. A separate ruling in Maryland has also temporarily blocked Trump’s orders nationwide.
Legal battles over gender-affirming care continue across the U.S., with more than half of all states enacting bans on such treatments for minors. Several of these laws have faced legal challenges, and a case from Tennessee is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, potentially shaping the future of gender-affirming care legislation.
The White House has not yet commented on the ruling.