California AG Sues San Diego Hospital Over Ending Gender Transition Care for Minors

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California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit against Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego over its decision to end gender transition treatment for minors. The hospital said it made the move to comply with demands from the Trump administration, which had threatened to strip its funding and shut it down for offering such care. Bonta argues the hospital violated the terms of its merger agreement, which included a commitment to continue providing gender transition services to minors.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing legal and political battles over access to gender-affirming care, especially for transgender youth. The Trump administration had targeted facilities offering these treatments, warning doctors they could be excluded from federal health programs. California is challenging these efforts, arguing they violate the rights of transgender individuals.

The details

Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego announced it would be closing its gender transition care center after the federal government threatened to revoke its funding and shut down the hospital if it continued offering gender transition treatment to children. The hospital said it was forced to comply with the Trump administration's demands, prompting California Attorney General Rob Bonta to file a lawsuit alleging the hospital violated the terms of its merger agreement, which included a commitment to continue providing gender transition services to minors.

• In 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order calling on the Department of Health and Human Services to protect children from "chemical and surgical mutilation" related to gender transition treatments.
• Last year, California joined a group of 19 Democrat-led states and Washington, D.C. in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its declaration seeking to restrict gender transition treatment for minors.

What’s next

The lawsuit filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta against Rady Children's Hospital will continue to work its way through the legal system, with the potential for further court rulings and appeals.