On February 7, 2025, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington against multiple federal agencies to halt an executive order that threatened to end federal funding to medical institutions providing gender-affirming care. The order also directs criminal enforcement against medical professionals and patients involved in such care. Three individual doctors joined as plaintiffs in the case, representing themselves as well as their minor patients.

On February 14, 2025, the coalition won a temporary restraining order, temporarily halting the executive order to end federal funding for gender affirming care. On February 19, 2025, Attorney General Phil Weiser added the state of Colorado to the lawsuit as well.

The coalition argued that the executive order violates the Fifth Amendment’s equal protection guarantee by singling out transgender individuals for mistreatment and discrimination. They also argued it infringes upon the separation of powers, usurping Congress’s authority over spending, and exceeds executive power in violation of the Tenth Amendment.

On February 28, 2025, the court issued a preliminary injunction, blocking Trump’s orders to deny gender-affirming care to trans youth while the case is pending.

On March 23, 2025, the court granted a stay pending appeal of the preliminary injunction, temporarily denying gender-affirming care to trans youth.

This order is part of a larger political effort to strip away civil rights from entire communities. The president’s cruelty is on full display with this dehumanizing executive order, along with his disdain for the Constitution. His actions are harming Washington’s youth, parents, and health care providers. Attorney General Nick Brown