Attorney General Nessel Sues to Block Unlawful Attacks on Medically Necessary Health Care for Transgender Youth

LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today joined a multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict access to necessary healthcare for transgender, intersex, and nonbinary youth (PDF). The lawsuit targets recent federal actions aimed at deterring providers from offering medically appropriate care to individuals under age 19, even in states like Michigan where such care is legal and protected. The lawsuit argues that the administration is overstepping its authority by using threats of criminal prosecution and federal investigations to pressure health care providers. The coalition is asking the court to block these actions and protect access to care for patients who need it. 

“The Trump Administration is attempting to strip away lawful, essential healthcare from vulnerable youth. These orders are illegal and dangerous and have no medical or scientific basis,” said Nessel. “I will continue to protect families, defend doctors, and stop politicians from putting our kids’ lives at risk.” 

On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order declaring that the United States would only recognize two sexes and calling for an end to federal support for what it called “gender ideology.” A second order, signed shortly after, focused on restricting medically necessary healthcare for youth. It defined everyone under 19 as a child, even though most states, like Michigan, consider 18-year-olds legal adults, and described recognized medical treatments as “chemical and surgical mutilation.” The order directed the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to pursue enforcement actions related to this care. Since then, DOJ has issued subpoenas to providers, under the guise of criminal law enforcement. The attorneys general argue that these efforts have no legal basis and are intended to discourage providers from offering lifesaving health care that is lawful under state law. 

The attorneys general warn that the administration’s tactics are already having an impact. In some states, providers have begun to reduce or eliminate services, and patients are reportedly cancelling appointments amid confusion about whether they can continue their care. The lawsuit seeks to prevent further harm and to ensure that transgender youth and their families can access care without being targeted by the federal government. 

"Health care decisions for kids should be made by parents and doctors, not by politicians," said Erin Knott, executive director of Equality Michigan, a LGBTQ+ advocacy group. "The federal government is using funding as a weapon to force providers to abandon their patients and override parents' rights to make health care decisions for their own children. We commend Attorney General Nessel for protecting Michigan families from devastating threats to cut essential healthcare." 

Medical experts, including national medical associations, agree that medical care is not only necessary for many transgender young people—in some cases, it is lifesaving. Denying this care has been shown to worsen mental health outcomes, including by increasing rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. 

“Like many of my colleagues, I am deeply distressed that these new measures—punitive changes to funding and regulation—threaten to dismantle this essential care,” said Patricia Wells, MD, Medical Director of The Corner Health Center. “These policies do not protect children; they endanger them. They undermine trust in the medical system and place affirming providers in an impossible position, forcing hospitals to close clinics and providers to stop offering the very care that helps young people survive and thrive. The loss of these services would not simply be a policy failure; it would be a moral one. We must do better. These young people deserve our compassion, our evidence-based care, and our unwavering commitment to their well-being. I applaud the leadership of the State of Michigan for protecting transgender and gender nonconforming youth, their families, and the caregivers who are saving lives every day.” 

“Forcing young people to experience unwanted pubertal changes will cause worsening dysphoria and unwelcome physical developments,” Wells added. “The ability to pause puberty gives patients and their parents time to get to the right diagnosis and carefully consider their options and embark on an effective treatment path.” 

The attorneys general argue that these actions violate the Constitution and exceed federal authority. The lawsuit asks the court to block the administration’s actions and stop the enforcement of these executive orders. 

 “In the state of Michigan, it is my fundamental right to make decisions about ‘the care, teaching, and education of my child.’ Unfortunately, the current Administration is actively working to eliminate my parental rights through overreaching Executive Orders,” said Tess Miller, a mid-Michigan parent. “If medical facilities are bullied into following restrictive Executive Orders and the government is allowed to have a seat in doctor visits, physicians will be prevented from providing the best standard practice of care. Kids, like mine, will suffer. This suffering will have ripple effects throughout society to the tune of self-harm, potential self-destruction, and an inability to participate in any of the American values we all share. Let’s let kids be kids without worry that the government will control who they are.” 

Joining Attorney General Nessel in filing this lawsuit, which was led by the attorneys general of New York, California, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Connecticut, are the attorneys general of Delaware, Hawai‘i, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, as well as the Governor of Pennsylvania.

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