Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced on Apr. 20 that a federal district court issued a final written order blocking the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict health care providers from treating youth with gender dysphoria. The court granted summary judgment in favor of Illinois and a coalition of 22 states, preventing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from excluding providers who offer gender-affirming care from Medicare and Medicaid programs.
The case is significant as it addresses access to medically necessary health care for transgender adolescents, which has been contested at the federal level. Advocates say such rulings are crucial for protecting vulnerable groups who rely on these services.
“This is another sharp reminder to the Trump administration that Illinois and our partner states will not stop fighting back against the unlawful and cruel targeting of transgender youth and their medical providers,” Raoul said. “The court agreed that Secretary Kennedy lacks power to cast aside medical standards of care recognized by state health care regulators; nor can he limit doctors’ participation in Medicaid and Medicare by proclamation. I will continue to stand with transgender youth and their medical providers and pledge to take all necessary action to stop this administration’s attacks on essential health care for all Illinoisians.”
According to the official website, the Illinois Attorney General advocates for vulnerable groups including workers, immigrants, seniors, consumers, promotes safer communities, supports crime victims in partnership with law enforcement, promotes open government, handles thousands of consumer complaints each year across Illinois, offers complaint filing services for consumer fraud or civil rights issues, extends advocacy efforts statewide, and addresses environmental as well as rights issues according to the official website.
On Dec. 18, 2025, HHS Secretary Kennedy declared certain forms of gender-affirming health care “unsafe and ineffective”—an action challenged immediately by Raoul’s coalition in U.S. District Court for Oregon on grounds that Congress had not given such authority nor had proper procedures been followed.
Saturday’s written opinion formalizes an earlier ruling at summary judgment hearing last month that blocked federal threats against hospitals or providers offering this type of treatment.
Joining Attorney General Raoul were attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota New Jersey New Mexico New York Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Washington Wisconsin as well as Pennsylvania’s governor.
