New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with a coalition of 13 attorneys general, has expressed their commitment to ensuring access to gender-affirming care. This announcement comes in response to an Executive Order issued by the Trump administration.
The coalition released a statement asserting their stance: “As state attorneys general, we stand firmly in support of health care policies that respect the dignity and rights of all people. Health care decisions should be made by patients, families, and doctors, not by a politician trying to use his power to restrict your freedoms. Gender-affirming care is essential, life-saving medical treatment that supports individuals in living as their authentic selves."
The statement criticized the Executive Order, stating it is incorrect both scientifically and legally. "Despite what the Trump administration has suggested, there is no connection between ‘female genital mutilation’ and gender-affirming care, and no federal law makes gender-affirming care unlawful. President Trump cannot change that by Executive Order."
Recently, attorneys general achieved a significant legal victory when a federal court ordered the government to resume funding that had been halted by the Trump administration. The Department of Justice followed up with a notice clarifying that “federal agencies cannot pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate any awards or obligations on the basis of the OMB memo, or on the basis of the President’s recently issued Executive Orders.” This ensures continued federal funding for institutions providing gender-affirming care.
The attorneys general also pledged ongoing enforcement of state laws supporting access to such care where they have jurisdiction. They are prepared to challenge any further attempts by the Trump administration to limit this access.
Joining Attorney General James in this initiative are her counterparts from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Vermont.