Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a multistate lawsuit that challenges recent federal actions aimed at limiting access to health care for transgender, intersex, and nonbinary youth. The lawsuit, filed alongside several other states and led by the attorneys general of New York, California, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Connecticut, targets executive orders issued by the Trump administration. These orders seek to restrict providers from offering certain medical treatments to individuals under 19 years old—even in states where such care is legal.

According to the complaint, the administration has used threats of criminal prosecution and federal investigations as a means to pressure health care providers. The coalition of attorneys general is asking the court to block these measures and ensure continued access to medically necessary care.

“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 stating that the United States would only recognize two sexes and ending federal support for what it called “gender ideology.” Another order soon after sought specifically to restrict medically necessary health care for minors under 19—despite most states considering 18-year-olds legal adults—and described established medical treatments as “chemical and surgical mutilation.” The U.S. Department of Justice was directed to pursue enforcement related to this care; since then, subpoenas have been issued to providers on criminal law grounds. The attorneys general argue these efforts lack legal foundation and are designed to discourage lawful treatment.

The coalition notes that these tactics have already had an effect: some providers have reduced or stopped services altogether amid uncertainty about enforcement risks. Patients are also cancelling appointments due to confusion over their ability to receive ongoing care.

"Health care decisions for kids should be made by parents and doctors, not by politicians," said Erin Knott, executive director of Equality Michigan. "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 professionals point out that such restrictions may worsen mental health outcomes among transgender youth—including higher rates of depression and suicide—by denying them evidence-based treatments supported by national associations.

“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 lawsuit claims that these executive actions violate constitutional protections by exceeding federal authority over state-regulated medical practices.

 “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... Let’s let kids be kids without worry that the government will control who they are.”

In addition joining Michigan’s Attorney General in filing suit were Delaware, Hawai‘i, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island Wisconsin,the District Columbia,and Pennsylvania's Governor.