Washington Attorney General Nick Brown issued a statement following a federal court hearing regarding the state's request for a preliminary injunction against President Trump's executive order banning gender-affirming care for minors. Judge Lauren King announced that a decision would be made at a later date.
Brown stated, "We made a strong case that the president’s disregard for the Constitution here is obvious and intentional. Children don’t need protection from life-saving care. They need freedom from a lawless president."
The hearing followed a temporary restraining order previously granted by the judge, preventing the White House from implementing its ban on gender-affirming care for individuals under 19, withholding funds from institutions providing such care, and potentially pursuing criminal actions against providers.
The lawsuit includes participation from attorneys general of Minnesota, Oregon, and Colorado, as well as three individual doctors who joined as plaintiffs. They argue that the executive order violates the 5th Amendment's equal protection guarantee by targeting transgender individuals.
Furthermore, they contend that Congress has already approved funding for medical research and education in Washington state, which cannot be overridden unilaterally by the president. The states also claim that medical practices in Washington are protected by the 10th Amendment and cannot be regulated or criminalized without congressional approval.
Funding for this litigation comes from the Attorney General’s Civil Justice Operating Fund, supported by recoveries from civil enforcement actions on behalf of Washingtonians.
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