Federal judge blocks funding restrictions on gender-affirming care

A federal judge has halted enforcement of provisions in two executive orders that limit funding for healthcare providers offering gender-affirming care to minors. In PFLAG v. Trump (No. 8:25-cv-337-BAH), US District Judge Brendan A. Hurson granted a preliminary injunction on 4 March 2025 barring agencies from withholding or terminating grants for providers who treat patients under 19.

According to the court order (ECF No. 116), HHS, NIH, and the National Science Foundation must immediately release any funds paused under the contested directives. A separate notice distributed 10 March 2025 instructs federal employees, contractors, and grantees to cease enforcement efforts and comply with the injunction.

Plaintiffs, led by the advocacy organization PFLAG, argue that these executive orders discriminate against transgender youth and violate constitutional protections. They welcomed the court’s decision, describing it as a “vital safeguard for at-risk children.”

The injunction stays in effect while litigation continues. No trial date has been announced, but future filings will appear in PFLAG v. Trump.