States Push Back Against “Cruel” Executive Order
Trump’s January executive order sought to eliminate federal funding for gender-affirming care, including Medicaid and military health coverage, calling such treatments a “stain on our nation’s history.”
In response, Washington, Minnesota, Oregon, and three unnamed doctors filed suit on Feb. 7 in Seattle federal court, seeking an injunction against what they call a blatantly unconstitutional directive. The lawsuit contends that:
- The order discriminates against transgender individuals, violating the Fifth Amendment’s equal protection clause.
- It oversteps federal authority, infringing on states’ 10th Amendment rights to regulate medical practices.
- Trump’s claims that gender-affirming care leads to regret and “mutilation” are unfounded and contradicted by medical evidence.
- The directive puts doctors at legal risk for providing essential care to transgender youth.
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown denounced Trump’s order as a cruel, politically motivated overreach, arguing that it unjustly strips federal funding from state healthcare institutions, including the University of Washington School of Medicine.
“Congress has already approved this funding, and the president does not have the unilateral authority to undo it,” Brown stated.
