A federal judge in Seattle, Lauren King, has granted a temporary restraining order against President Trump’s executive order that aimed to halt federal support for gender-affirming care for transgender youth under 19. This decision follows a lawsuit filed by Democratic attorneys general of Washington state, Oregon, and Minnesota, along with three doctors as plaintiffs, in the Western District of Washington. The order came just a day after another federal judge in Baltimore, Brendan Hurson, issued a temporary restraining order in response to a separate lawsuit representing families with transgender or nonbinary children.

Trump’s executive order, signed last month, sought to stop federal funding for institutions providing gender-affirming care and exclude coverage for it in federally run insurance programs like Medicaid and TRICARE. The order also aimed to target hospitals and universities receiving federal funding that offer such care. In response, the Democratic attorneys general argued that the executive order violated equal rights protections and states’ regulatory powers.

The ruling was met with relief by health care providers and medical professionals, who emphasized the importance of ensuring access to necessary care for transgender youth. Trump’s broader actions against transgender rights, including military service bans and restrictions on gender education in schools, have sparked legal challenges and pushback in various forms across the country. As the legal battles continue, the fight for transgender rights and access to gender-affirming care remains a critical and ongoing issue.