A judge blocks Trump's plan to cut transgender youth health care funding

Until further notice, a federal court in Seattle has banned President Trump's proposal to cut funding to organizations that offer gender-affirming care to transgender youth.

After Democratic attorneys general from Minnesota, Washington, and Oregon sued the Trump administration, U.S. District Court Judge Lauren King issued a two-week restraining order; Colorado has subsequently joined the lawsuit, as Breitbart News reported.

Friday was the last day for King to issue her temporary order; on the same day, she heard arguments and issued a preliminary injunction that would prevent Trump from implementing most of his plan until the case is decided.

The judge ruled that the states did not have standing to challenge the order's prohibition of female genital mutilation.

Other States Rules

The judge ruled that the record "is bereft of any evidence" that the plaintiffs intend to carry out female genital mutilation, even though the practice is already unlawful in the four courts involved in the case.

The ruling was lauded by Washington Attorney General Nick Brown.

“The president’s disregard for the Constitution is obvious and intentional,” he said in a statement.

“But once again, states and the courts have stepped up to affirm the rule of law and the values that hold us together as a nation.”

More Details

"Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism" is one such document that demands the elimination of funding for initiatives that "promote gender ideology."

The second one, titled "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation," demands that the federal government withhold funding from healthcare facilities, universities, and research centers that offer gender-affirming services to minors.

In response to the directive, a number of healthcare facilities around the nation cut off access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

Some states' Medicaid programs pay for gender-affirming medical services, but that might change soon due to Trump's "Protecting Children" order.