lawsuit hhs transgender health care children.

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, its Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and its inspector general over a declaration that could complicate access to gender-affirming care for young people. The lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Eugene, Oregon, alleges that the declaration is inaccurate and unlawful and asks the court to block its enforcement. Last week’s declaration called treatments like puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries unsafe and ineffective for children and adolescents whose gender expression doesn’t match their sex assigned at birth. An HHS spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit.