On August 1, 2025, a coalition of 16 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia filed a federal lawsuit in Massachusetts aimed at blocking sweeping executive actions from the Trump administration. These actions are designed to restrict access to gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgical care for individuals under 19.
The lawsuit challenges Executive Order 14187, issued on January 28, which labeled gender-affirming care for minors as “chemical and surgical mutilation.” The order directed federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, to withhold funding from medical providers offering this care and to prioritize investigations into such treatments.
In April, Attorney General Pam Bondi escalated the situation by issuing a memo that equated gender-affirming care with female genital mutilation, despite the medical community’s strong opposition to this comparison. The memo triggered fear and confusion in hospitals and clinics nationwide, with some ceasing services even in states where the care remains legal.
As a result, at least eight major hospitals across the country, including facilities in California, Illinois, and Washington, D.C., have suspended or ended gender-affirming services for minors. One of the most visible examples came in July, when Children’s Hospital Los Angeles announced the closure of its Center for Transyouth Health and Development.
Medical organizations such as the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Endocrine Society continue to support gender-affirming care as evidence-based, safe, and often lifesaving. Research consistently shows that this care improves mental health outcomes and reduces suicide risk among transgender youth.
The ACLU, Lambda Legal, and advocacy groups including PFLAG have filed parallel lawsuits challenging the executive order. These suits argue that the order is unconstitutional, unfounded, and a direct threat to public health.
The state-led lawsuit contends that the executive order violates the Tenth Amendment by interfering with state-level medical regulation. It also argues that the administration’s efforts to investigate and penalize hospitals over legal care represent an unconstitutional abuse of federal power. State attorneys general also note that many hospitals are now hesitant to continue offering necessary treatments for fear of losing federal support or facing litigation.
In February, a federal judge issued a nationwide restraining order that temporarily blocks enforcement of some provisions of the order. That ruling remains in effect as legal battles continue.
This lawsuit also comes just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors. That decision has already prompted similar bans in at least 25 states, placing medical access at risk for tens of thousands of families.
For many families, the situation is devastating. Now, parents are frantically searching for new providers or relocating out of state, while some teens face the abrupt cessation of care. These interruptions can worsen dysphoria, trigger mental health crises, and cut off vital support at a critical stage of development.
At the heart of this legal battle is more than policy. It is about protecting the ability of young people to receive compassionate, competent care without political interference. These lawsuits reflect a growing resistance to what many see as a coordinated campaign to erase transgender lives from public healthcare.
