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Federal judge block’s RFK Jr.’s ‘gender care’ restrictions

A U.S. federal judge has blocked an effort by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to limit access to gender-affirming medical treatments for minors, ruling that the policy overstepped federal authority.

In a decision issued in Oregon, U.S. District Court Judge Mustafa Kasubhai sided with a coalition of 18 states in preventing the proposed restrictions from taking effect. The ruling allows the continued provision of treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and certain surgical procedures for young people diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

Kennedy had issued a declaration in December 2025 stating that pediatric gender-transition interventions are “neither safe nor effective” and argued they did not meet established standards of healthcare for minors. The policy also signalled potential consequences for providers through federal funding mechanisms.



However, the court found that the directive exceeded the secretary’s authority and improperly pressured healthcare providers by linking compliance to federal funding. As a result, the restrictions have been halted pending further legal proceedings.

The decision has drawn strong reactions from critics of gender-affirming care, who argue that such interventions carry significant long-term risks. The treatments may have adverse psychological and physical outcomes, including increased vulnerability among certain groups of youth.

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