LGBTQ+ advocates, families sue Trump admin for ending funding of transgender healthcare under 19
A legal battle is unfolding as a group of seven families, LGBTQ+ advocates, and medical organizations have taken a stand against President Donald Trump and his administration. The lawsuit, filed in a Baltimore federal court, aims to challenge an executive order that bans federal funding for transgender healthcare for individuals under the age of 19.
The plaintiffs are seeking an immediate injunction to delay the implementation of Trump’s executive order, which has caused chaos in hospitals across the country. Medical care for transgender individuals under nineteen has been abruptly halted, with appointments canceled and patients turned away. This sudden shutdown in care stems directly from President Trump’s Executive Order issued on January 28, 2025, titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.”
The lawsuit argues that the denial of care order is unconstitutional, as it goes against the power of the purse granted to Congress by the Constitution. Trump’s directives to cut off funding have had immediate and tangible effects, leading hospitals to discontinue essential gender-affirming medical care for transgender patients under nineteen.
This legal battle is part of a series of executive orders signed by Trump related to gender issues. The orders include reinstating the ban on transgender troops in the military, banning federal funding for sex changes for minors, and requiring federal agencies to recognize only two sexes, male and female. These actions have sparked outrage and legal challenges from advocacy groups like GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law) and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR).
One such lawsuit, Talbott v. Trump, brought forward by active-duty service members and individuals attempting to enlist, challenges the military ban on equal protection grounds. The plaintiffs include decorated service members and civilians seeking to enlist, all of whom are affected by Trump’s discriminatory policies.
Another lawsuit, filed by a transgender inmate receiving taxpayer-funded medical treatment, challenges Trump’s executive order that ends medical transgender treatments for federal prisoners. The inmate, represented by GLAD Law, NCLR, and Lowenstein Sandler LLP, claims to be at imminent risk of losing access to necessary medical care for gender dysphoria.
As the legal battle unfolds, it is clear that the fight for transgender rights and healthcare is far from over. Advocates, medical organizations, and affected individuals are standing up against discriminatory policies and fighting for equal treatment and access to essential medical care. The outcome of these lawsuits will have far-reaching implications for the transgender community and the future of healthcare in America.
