Federal judge blocks Trump order pulling federal funds from organizations offering child sex changes

A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order that would strip federal funding from institutions offering child sex changes for trans-identified minors.

District Court Judge Lauren King had previously issued a two-week restraining order after several Democratic state attorneys general sued the Trump administration. That temporary order expired Friday, and after hearing arguments, King granted a preliminary injunction that blocks most of Trump’s directive while the case is litigated.

The case involves two executive orders. The first, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism,” includes provisions to cut federal funds from programs that "promote gender ideology." The second, “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” directs the federal government to withhold grants from institutions offering so-called gender-affirming care to individuals under 19. Some institutions had already halting child sex changes in response to the orders.

The judge said in her ruling Friday that the order was not limited to children or irreversible treatments, and that it does not target medical interventions performed on “cisgender” children, according to the Associated Press.

“In fact, its inadequate ‘means-end fit’ would prevent federally funded medical providers from providing necessary medical treatments to transgender youth that are completely unrelated to gender identity,” the judge wrote. “For example, a cisgender teen could obtain puberty blockers from such a provider as a component of cancer treatment, but a transgender teen with the same cancer care plan could not.”

Attorneys general from Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, and Colorado, who filed the lawsuit in Seattle, contend that Trump’s order violates equal rights protections, the separation of powers, and states' rights to regulate issues not explicitly delegated to the federal government. Washington Assistant Attorney General William McGinty argued, “There are going to be young people who are going to take their lives if they can no longer receive this care.”

The Trump administration has disputed these claims, with Justice Department attorneys arguing, “The President’s authority to direct subordinate agencies to implement his agenda, subject to those agencies’ own statutory authorities, is well established.”

Trump has also signed executive orders recognizing only two biological sexes and banning transgender-identifying athletes from competing in sports based on their claimed gender identity. These orders are also expected to face legal challenges.