Judge blocks Trump order on transgender youth care

A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of President Donald Trump's executive order restricting gender-affirming care for transgender people under the age of 19.

Trump's order aimed to withhold federal funding to medical institutions that provide such care -- including puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and surgeries -- calling on the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to "take all appropriate actions to end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children." The executive order does not appear to restrict these procedures for non-transgender people under 19.

The court's ruling, issued by Judge Brendan A. Hurson, ordered any withheld funds to be released and for all agencies to be notified of the restraining order, which lasts for 14 days.

The judge's decision also blocked a part of another executive order, aimed at blocking federal funds from being used to "promote gender ideology."

Transgender young adults and families with transgender youth filed a legal challenge against the orders in early February, arguing that they violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment, the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the First Amendment.

The executive order is the latest action from Trump that impacts the transgender community -- which is estimated to make up less than 1% of the population over the age of 13. Trump also recently signed executive orders restricting transgender participation in the military, ending federal legal recognition of transgender people and restricting gender marker changes on federal documents.