Attorney General James Wins Lawsuit Challenging Federal Attack on Transgender Health Care

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement after a federal judge ruled from the bench that the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary cannot threaten providers with an illegal “declaration” to baselessly limit access to health care for transgender young people:

“So much of the conversation around transgender health care has lost sight of the real people harmed by the federal government’s attacks. Young people are losing access to life-saving treatment, families are being left in the dark, and medical providers are being threatened just for doing their jobs and following standards of care.

“Today’s win breaks through the noise and gives some needed clarity to patients, families, and providers. Health care services for transgender young people remain legal, and the federal government cannot intimidate or punish the providers who offer them.

“It is my duty and my privilege to stand with trans New Yorkers and their families. I will always fight for the LGBTQ+ community.”

In December, Attorney General James led a coalition of attorneys general and governors in a lawsuit challenging Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s baseless “declaration” against transgender health care, which claims that certain forms of transgender health care are “unsafe and ineffective” and threatens to punish any doctors, hospitals, and clinics that continue to provide it by excluding them from the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon verbally granted the coalition’s motion for summary judgment, ruling the declaration is unlawful and therefore unenforceable. A written decision will follow the verbal ruling.

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