Attorney General Aaron M. Frey, along with 14 other attorneys general, issued a joint statement today in response to the Trump Administration's recent Executive Order concerning gender-affirming care. The group emphasized their dedication to safeguarding access to such care, describing it as "essential, life-saving medical treatment that supports individuals in living as their authentic selves."
The coalition criticized the Executive Order, asserting that it is "wrong on the science and the law." They stated that there is no legal basis for linking "female genital mutilation" with gender-affirming care and maintained that no federal law renders such care unlawful. The statement underscored that "President Trump cannot change that by Executive Order."
Recently, a federal court decision mandated the resumption of funding previously halted by the Trump Administration. Following this ruling, the Department of Justice notified 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.” Consequently, institutions providing gender-affirming care will continue receiving federal funding despite the Executive Order.
The attorneys general vowed to uphold state laws supporting access to gender-affirming care where applicable and pledged to challenge any attempts by the Trump Administration to limit such access within their jurisdictions.
Joining Attorney General Frey in this declaration are his counterparts from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.