A federal judge recently mandated that the Trump administration maintain federal funding for hospitals across the country that provide gender-transition treatments to individuals under 19 years of age.

This temporary restraining order was issued by Judge Brendan A. Hurson of the U.S. District Court for Maryland. It stems from a lawsuit filed by six transgender minors aged 12 to 18, along with their parents and advocacy organizations, who sought to challenge President Trump’s executive orders that target medical care for transgender youth.

While this order does not represent a final ruling on the matter, it poses a challenge to the Trump administration’s broader initiative aimed at limiting the government’s and taxpayer-funded entities’ recognition of transgender individuals’ gender identities. Earlier this month, another federal judge intervened to block Trump’s directive regarding withholding gender-transition medical services for federal inmates and stipulating that transgender women should be housed with male inmates.

Judge Hurson emphasized that the intention behind these actions is to protect vulnerable individuals, stating, “However, this approach seems to place these children in significant danger.”

The judge also indicated that it appears probable the plaintiffs will succeed in their argument, as the provisions of Trump’s directives likely overstep his authority by directing federal agencies to withhold funds allocated by Congress. Furthermore, he remarked that the plaintiffs possess “irrefutable documentation” of suffering irreparable harm due to these actions, “beyond the infringement of the separation of powers.”

The plaintiffs, residing in Maryland, New York, and Massachusetts, assert that their access to gender-transition healthcare is endangered by two executive orders announced by Trump shortly after his inauguration last month.

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