A federal judge in Maryland has declined a request to erect a nationwide legal barrier against U.S. Department of Justice efforts to obtain records related to transgender minors who received gender-affirming medical treatment, ruling that such sweeping relief cannot be achieved through the type of class action proposed by LGBTQ advocacy groups.
The decision came from U.S. District Judge Julie Rubin, who nevertheless reaffirmed her earlier stance that a subpoena issued to Children’s National Hospital seeking patient information was improper. Rubin once again blocked the government’s attempt to obtain records under that subpoena, describing the demand as oppressive and characterizing parts of the records request as an impermissible fishing expedition.
The lawsuit was brought by 11 families with the support of LGBTQ rights organizations. They argued that limiting court intervention to individual hospitals would leave transgender youths vulnerable because federal authorities could continue issuing similar subpoenas elsewhere and potentially obtain records before affected families had a chance to challenge them in court.
While acknowledging the concerns raised by the families, Rubin concluded that federal procedural rules do not permit courts to collectively quash future subpoenas through the nationwide class-action mechanism sought by the plaintiffs. In her view, the legal structure proposed by the families did not fit the nature of subpoena disputes or the remedy they were requesting.
Advocates representing the families viewed the ruling as a mixed outcome. Although the court rejected nationwide class certification, they argued that the decision identified alternative legal avenues that could still be used to pursue broader protections for transgender youths’ medical information.
The Justice Department defended its actions, saying it would continue using available legal tools to investigate medical treatments provided to minors. The department has issued more than 20 administrative subpoenas to healthcare providers and clinics involved in gender-affirming care for young patients across the United States.
The dispute traces back to policy changes introduced after President Donald Trump returned to office in 2025. An executive order directed federal agencies to end support for gender-affirming treatments for minors and instructed the Justice Department to prioritize related investigations.
Courts across the country have repeatedly scrutinized those investigative efforts. Several federal judges have either fully or partially blocked similar subpoenas, with some expressing concern that the government was using its authority in a manner that could pressure hospitals and physicians to abandon treatments that remain lawful under state law.
Rubin herself previously struck down portions of the subpoena directed at Children’s National Hospital, finding that parts of the request lacked a legitimate investigative purpose. Her latest ruling leaves that protection in place for the hospital’s patients while stopping short of extending similar safeguards to healthcare providers nationwide.
The case remains part of a growing legal battle over the federal government’s efforts to investigate gender-affirming care for minors and the extent to which patient privacy can be shielded from those inquiries.
