Judge Lets 16 States' Suit Over Transgender Care Probes Proceed, Rejecting DOJ Dismissal Bid
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 3
Judge Lets 16 States' Suit Over Transgender Care Probes Proceed, Rejecting DOJ Dismissal Bid
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 3
Summary
U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley refused to throw out a lawsuit by 16 Democratic-led states and Washington, D.C., challenging Justice Department probes into transgender youth care.
Kelley said DOJ memos went beyond setting enforcement priorities and instead adopted new interpretations of federal law meant to intimidate providers into halting care, even where states allow it.
The ruling found the states plausibly alleged violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and the Tenth Amendment, citing DOJ subpoenas and investigations already launched against providers.
The case targets memos implementing Donald Trump's January 2025 order to prioritize such probes; one Bondi memo invoked the female genital mutilation law and pushed civil investigations of puberty-blocker and hormone suppliers.
DOJ has said it sent more than 20 subpoenas, and while some judges have blocked those efforts, several major hospitals have already stopped offering the care the states say the administration aimed to shut down.
As legal battles disrupt care, what new support systems are emerging for transgender youth?
What does this fight reveal about the future of state versus federal control over American healthcare?
Federal Overreach or State Rights? 16-State Lawsuit Against DOJ Advances in Gender-Affirming Care Showdown
Overview
On June 6, 2026, Judge Kelley allowed a major lawsuit by 16 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia to proceed against the Department of Justice. The court found that the DOJ, under the Trump administration, went beyond setting enforcement priorities and instead used subpoenas, funding threats, and prosecution threats to intimidate and harass healthcare providers offering gender-affirming care. These federal actions aimed to pressure hospitals into stopping such care for youth. Judge Kelley ruled that this conduct violated states' rights and federal administrative law, setting the stage for a significant legal battle over state versus federal authority in healthcare.