Federal judge pauses President Trumps order restricting gender procedures for minors
A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s recent executive order aimed at restricting gender transition procedures for transgender people under age 19.The judge’s ruling came after a lawsuit was filed earlier this month on behalf of families with transgender or nonbinary children who allege their health care has already been compromised by the president’s order.A national group for family of LGBTQ+ people and a doctors organization are also plaintiffs in the court challenge, one of many lawsuits opposing a slew of executive orders Trump has issued as he seeks to reverse the policies of former President Joe Biden.Judge Brendan Hurson, who was nominated by Biden, granted the plaintiffs’ request for a temporary restraining order following a hearing in federal court in Baltimore.
The ruling essentially puts Trump’s directive on hold while the case proceeds.Trump’s executive order “seems to deny that this population even exists, or deserves to exist,” Hurson said.Shortly after taking office, Trump signed an executive order directing federally run insurance programs to exclude coverage for transitions.That includes Medicaid, which covers such services in some states, and TRICARE for military families.
Trump’s order also called on the Department of Justice to vigorously pursue litigation and legislation to oppose the practice.The lawsuit includes several accounts from families of appointments being canceled as medical institutions react to the new directive.Attorneys for the plaintiffs argue Trump’s executive order is “unlawful and unconstitutional” because it seeks to withhold federal funds previously authorized by Congress and because it violates anti-discrimination laws while infringing on the rights of parents.Like legal challenges to state bans on gender transitions care, the lawsuit also alleges the policy is discriminatory because it allows federal funds to cover the same treatments when they’re not used for...