Court Blocks Federal Effort to Limit Transgender Healthcare

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A U.S. District Court in Oregon has ruled against a declaration by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that sought to limit access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth. The lawsuit, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, argued the HHS declaration was unlawful and jeopardized medically necessary care. The court agreed, granting the coalition's motion for summary judgment and declaring the HHS declaration unenforceable.

Why it matters

This ruling is a significant victory for advocates of transgender healthcare, preventing the federal government from using its financial leverage to dictate healthcare practices within states that support gender-affirming care. It also provides reassurance to healthcare providers who feared potential penalties for offering treatments aligned with established medical standards.

The details

In December, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued a declaration questioning the safety and effectiveness of certain transgender healthcare treatments, including puberty blockers and surgeries for young people. The declaration also threatened to exclude providers offering these treatments from federal healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Attorney General James led a coalition of states in challenging the declaration, arguing it overstepped the government's authority and jeopardized access to medically necessary care. The court agreed, ruling the declaration unenforceable.

• In December, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued the declaration.
• In March 2026, the U.S. District Court in Oregon verbally granted the coalition's motion for summary judgment and ruled the declaration unenforceable.

What they’re saying

What’s next

A formal written decision from the court is forthcoming, and the federal government may choose to appeal the ruling.