The judge’s temporary restraining order is a setback for Trump’s efforts to roll back transgender rights and services.
Published On 14 Feb 2025
A United States federal judge has temporarily blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump that curtailed access to gender transition care for people younger than 19.
Thursday’s ruling by District Judge Brendan Hurson stems from a lawsuit brought by the families of transgender teenagers and watchdog groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
In his decision, Hurson said that the executive order, which refers to gender-affirming healthcare as “chemical and surgical mutilation of children”, seems to “deny that this population even exists, or deserves to exist”.
The ruling represents the latest blow to Trump’s agenda in the courts, where the legality of many of his measures has been met with scepticism.
Trump’s order, issued on January 27, pledged to rigorously enforce laws to “prohibit or limit” what were termed as “destructive and life-altering procedures”, including the use of puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries for those transitioning.
It also called on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to halt federal funds that may go to covering gender-affirming care or related research.
The ACLU and Lambda Legal, an LGBTQ civil rights group, represented the families involved in the ongoing lawsuit. They said their clients saw hospital services stop as a result of Trump’s order.
“Good and decent parents of transgender kids should never be in the frightening position of having their child’s prescribed, medically necessary care canceled at the whim and threat of a politician,” Brian K Bond, the chief executive officer of the LGBTQ advocacy group PFLAG, said in a news release.
A coalition of 13 state attorneys general, including New York’s Letitia James, also called on healthcare providers to continue providing necessary services to transgender youth, calling Trump’s order discriminatory.
“The Trump administration’s recent Ex