BALTIMORE — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order that aimed to restrict gender-affirming health care for transgender individuals under the age of 19. The ruling follows a lawsuit filed earlier this month on behalf of families with transgender or nonbinary children, who claim their health care has already been adversely affected by Trump's directive. Support also comes from a national LGBTQ+ family group and a coalition of medical professionals, who are plaintiffs in this legal challenge, part of a broader resistance to various executive orders issued by Trump that seek to overturn policies established by former President Joe Biden.

Judge Brendan Hurson, nominated by Biden, approved the plaintiffs' motion for a temporary restraining order after a federal court hearing in Baltimore, which effectively suspends Trump’s directive for at least 14 days while legal proceedings continue. The restraining order may be extended beyond this initial period.

In his ruling, Hurson remarked, “Trump’s executive order seems to deny that this population even exists, or deserves to exist.” The order, which came shortly after Trump’s inauguration, mandates that federally run insurance programs exclude coverage for gender-affirming care. This mandates affect programs like Medicaid and TRICARE, utilized by military families. Moreover, the Trump administration's order requests that the Department of Justice actively pursue legal action against facilities providing such care.

The lawsuit highlights multiple instances where families have faced canceled medical appointments, prompting healthcare providers to reassess their approaches in light of the controversial order. Their attorneys argue that Trump's executive order is both "unlawful and unconstitutional," aiming to withhold federally authorized funding while violating various anti-discrimination laws and infringing on parental rights.

Similar to other legal efforts challenging state-level bans on gender-affirming care, the suit claims the policy is discriminatory by continuing to allow federal funds for the same treatments when they are not linked to gender transition.

As a result of this imposed directive, some healthcare institutions have paused gender-affirming care, including the prescription of puberty blockers and hormone therapy, pending a review of how the order impacts their services.

Trump's stance represents a drastic shift from the Biden administration's efforts to expand civil rights protections for transgender people. In contrast, Trump has issued numerous statements decrying gender-affirming care, falsely asserting that “medical professionals are maiming and sterilizing a growing number of impressionable children.”

Major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, advocate for access to gender-affirming care. Young individuals who identify as a gender that differs from their sex assigned at birth typically undergo thorough evaluations through a multidisciplinary team prior to any medical transition measures, which may include social changes like adjusting hairstyle or pronouns before considering medications. Surgical interventions for minors remain extremely rare.

For further insights into this ruling, visit the original articles at HuffPost, LA Times, SFGate, and VOA News.