Federal judge blocks RFK jr.’s attempt to restrict gender‑affirming care for minors

A U.S. federal judge has halted an effort led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to limit access to gender‑affirming care for minors, delivering a significant setback to the administration’s attempt to redefine national standards on transgender healthcare. Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai of the District of Oregon granted a motion for summary judgment from a coalition of Democratic‑led states, ruling that Kennedy’s declaration—stating such treatments were “neither safe nor effective”—exceeded his authority and failed to meet federal rulemaking requirements.

The challenge was brought by Illinois, New York, California and several other states, which filed suit after the administration announced a plan in December to withhold Medicare and Medicaid funds from hospitals offering gender‑affirming care to minors. They argued the move improperly interfered with state authority and sought to override established clinical guidelines. Kennedy’s declaration claimed that medical organisations’ standards of care were unsupported and endangered young people with gender dysphoria.

Following the ruling, New York Attorney General Letitia James said the decision “breaks through the noise” and reassures families and providers that gender‑affirming services for young people remain legal. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield added that the court saw through what he described as an attempt to intimidate hospitals into abandoning their patients. A written opinion from the court is expected.

The ruling safeguards access to gender‑affirming care for trans youth and curbs federal attempts to undermine established medical standards.