On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Lauren King issued a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration’s executive order that bans federal funding for hospitals providing gender-affirming treatments to transgender youth.

The ruling affects Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, and Colorado, temporarily halting the ban while legal battles continue.

Since his return to the White House on January 20, President Donald Trump has enacted multiple executive orders affecting transgender rights.

His supporters argue these measures protect biological distinctions and women’s rights. However, critics claim the orders infringe on individual freedoms and state governance.

One of Trump’s most controversial orders blocked federal funding for hospitals offering gender-affirming care to minors. Another banned transgender individuals from serving in the military.

Both directives have faced strong legal pushback.

• Judge Lauren King, based in Seattle, issued the injunction just hours before a 14-day pause on the directive was set to expire.
• The lawsuit was initiated by three anonymous doctors from Washington, Oregon, and Minnesota, later joined by plaintiffs from Colorado.
• The plaintiffs argue the order violates the 5th and 10th Amendments by interfering with state healthcare policies and undermining the separation of powers.
• A separate Maryland ruling has also blocked Trump’s administration from cutting funding to medical facilities that provide transgender healthcare.

The Legal Battle

In her ruling, Judge King stated:

The Court’s holding here is not about the policy goals that President Trump seeks to advance; rather, it is about reaffirming the structural integrity of the Constitution by ensuring that executive action respects congressional authority.

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown echoed this sentiment, saying:

The president’s disregard for the Constitution is obvious and intentional. But once again, states and the courts have stepped up to affirm the rule of law.

Meanwhile, a Trump administration attorney defended the executive order, claiming it aims to “safeguard children from potentially dangerous, ineffective, and unproven treatments.”

One of the doctors who filed the lawsuit expressed relief, stating:

“I have been carrying the heavy weight of knowing that my patients could lose their health care at any moment. This ruling is a huge step in protecting their rights.”

Within a short span, federal judges appointed by former President Joe Biden have blocked multiple Trump executive orders. In a coordinated legal push:

• A judge in Washington, D.C., halted Trump’s freeze on federal grants and loans.
• Another judge blocked the defunding of the USAID aid agency.
• A ruling in Washington state paused Trump’s ban on asylum seekers at the southern border.

Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington, D.C., criticized Trump’s funding freeze, calling it “kill-conceived from the beginning.”

Similarly, Judge Amir Ali reprimanded government lawyers for failing to confirm whether USAID funds had been restored.

With multiple executive orders facing legal challenges, the coming months will determine how much authority Trump’s administration holds over healthcare, immigration, and federal funding.

The legal pushback suggests a broader struggle between the executive branch and judicial oversight, shaping the landscape of transgender rights, federal spending, and asylum policies in the United States.

Last modified: March 2, 2025