Court blocks Trump’s illegal orders targeting trans youth and gender-affirming care

March 1, 2025 (SAINT PAUL) — Last night, a federal judge granted Minnesota’s request for a preliminary injunction to block President Trump’s illegal Executive Orders to deny life-saving medical care to trans youth. The injunction will last for the duration of the state’s lawsuit challenging those orders. 

“It is unlawful and grossly immoral for Donald Trump to use the power of the federal government to target and bully kids just trying to be themselves and get the care they need,” said Attorney General Ellison. “Gender-affirming care is backed by evidence, provided by trained medical professionals, and given in close consultation with a young person’s parents or legal guardians. Singling out this kind of care and threatening the funding of medical institutions that provide it is unacceptable. I am extremely pleased that a federal judge has blocked this illegal and discriminatory policy.”

Minnesota was joined in suing to halt Trump’s illegal Executive Orders by the states of Washington, Oregon, and Colorado. The injunction affects those four plaintiff states only. 

The states argued the orders violate the 5th Amendment’s equal protection guarantee by singling out transgender individuals for mistreatment and discrimination. Additionally, Congress has already authorized research and education funding for medical institutions, and the president cannot unilaterally overrule congressional intent. The president also cannot unilaterally regulate or criminalize medical practices in the states, which are protected by the 10th Amendment, states argue.  

In granting the states’ preliminary injunction motion, the Court agreed that the plaintiffs were likely to show that the challenged executive orders violate equal protection and the separation of powers.

The Court went on to firmly warn the federal government against baseless and “bad faith” threats to criminalize medically necessary gender-affirming care. The Court explained, “federal prosecutors and law enforcement are legally and ethically obligated to follow the law, and serious consequences could result from advancing a groundless criminal prosecution.” The Court went on to find that the record is “bereft of any evidence,” that any of the thousands of the licensed doctors and clinicians providing gender-affirming care in the Plaintiff States could plausibly be accused of violating federal law.

The action follows the judge’s previous grant of a temporary restraining order against the president’s action to withhold research and education grants from medical institutions providing gender-affirming care to young people and prioritize potential criminal actions against providers. In granting the previous temporary restraining order, Judge Lauren King said the Executive Orders “blatantly discriminated against trans youth” and would not likely “survive judicial scrutiny.” Judge King reaffirmed that ruling today.