New York Attorney General Joins Coalition Opposing Federal Restrictions on Gender-Affirming Care
The challenged Executive Orders include provisions rejecting gender identity as distinct from biological sex and barring federal funding for institutions that support gender-affirming care for minors.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, alongside a coalition of 17 other state attorneys general, has filed an amicus brief in support of transgender youth and their families in a lawsuit challenging recent federal restrictions on gender-affirming medical care.
The brief, submitted in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, supports a case brought by advocacy groups and affected families seeking to block the enforcement of two Executive Orders issued by the Trump administration. The orders restrict access to gender-affirming care for transgender minors by limiting federal funding for institutions that provide such services.
Attorney General James and the coalition argue that these federal policies interfere with state anti-discrimination protections and create uncertainty for healthcare providers and institutions. The attorneys general contend that the restrictions impose barriers to medical care for transgender youth, with potential negative consequences for mental health and well-being.
“These Executive Orders are causing disruption to critical healthcare services and have led to uncertainty among providers, patients, and families,” the coalition stated in the brief. “States have a duty to protect their residents and ensure equal access to medical care.”
The challenged Executive Orders include provisions rejecting gender identity as distinct from biological sex and barring federal funding for institutions that support gender-affirming care for minors under 19. Following the implementation of these policies, some medical institutions reportedly suspended treatment for transgender minors, citing concerns over federal funding implications.
In their legal filing, Attorney General James and her counterparts emphasized the stance of major medical organizations, such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, which classify gender-affirming care as essential healthcare. Research has linked restrictions on such care to an increased risk of mental health challenges among transgender youth.
New York law protects access to gender-affirming healthcare, with state regulations prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity. Under these protections, insurance providers in New York are required to cover medically necessary treatments for transgender individuals.
The coalition includes attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
The case is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, where plaintiffs are seeking a preliminary injunction to halt enforcement of the federal orders.