Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and a coalition of 22 states secured a written federal court order on April 21 that blocks an effort by the Trump Administration to restrict healthcare providers from offering gender-affirming care to youth. The order follows a lawsuit filed in December 2025 against U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., challenging his declaration that threatened such care providers and attempted to limit access for young people.
The issue is significant as it addresses who has the authority to set standards for medical care involving transgender adolescents, with potential consequences for both patients and healthcare institutions nationwide.
In its written decision, the court stated: “Unserious leaders are unsafe. There is nothing more serious than our leaders’ dedication to the rule of law so that we might maintain the integrity of our constitutional democracy. This case highlights a leader’s unserious regard for the rule of law… Secretary Kennedy’s unlawful declaration harmed children. This case illustrates that when a leader acts without authority and in the absence of the rule of law, he acts with cruelty.”
Attorney General Ellison said, “Gender-affirming care is healthcare, and only patients and doctors, and parents when appropriate, should be making those decisions… I’m gratified that the court’s written order and judgment so soundly reject the extraordinary steps the Trump Administration took to skirt the rule of law… It’s particularly important that the court took the step of permanently blocking Kennedy and HHS from trying anything like this in the future.”
According to details from Ellison’s office, on December 18, 2025, HHS issued a declaration labeling certain forms of gender-affirming care as “unsafe and ineffective,” attempting to give itself power over Medicare and Medicaid participation by providers offering this care. Five days later, Ellison joined other state attorneys general in filing suit in Oregon federal district court arguing lack of legal authority by HHS as well as procedural violations.
The judge granted summary judgment in favor of Ellison’s coalition on March 19 during an oral ruling; Saturday’s written order made permanent their victory—vacating Kennedy’s declaration entirely while confirming states’ rights over standards-of-care decisions related to gender-affirming treatment.
Other participants joining Minnesota include attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,Oregon,Rhode Island,Vermont Washington,Wisconsin,and Pennsylvania’s governor.
