Lambda Legal, in collaboration with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), has filed multiple lawsuits against the Trump administration, challenging recent executive orders restricting transgender healthcare and military service. The lawsuits, filed in federal court, argue that these measures violate constitutional protections and disproportionately harm transgender individuals.
Legal Action Against Healthcare Ban
One lawsuit, filed on February 4, 2025, targets an executive order that prohibits federal funding for healthcare services facilitating gender transitions for minors. The order, issued under the guise of protecting children, effectively blocks access to gender-affirming care for thousands of transgender youth who rely on Medicaid and federally funded programs.
“This order is an egregious attack on transgender youth and their families,” said Sasha Buchert, senior attorney at Lambda Legal. “Denying medically necessary care based on political ideology is not just wrong—it’s unconstitutional.”
The lawsuit contends that the policy violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and exceeds presidential authority. Plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to halt enforcement of the order, allowing medical providers to continue offering gender-affirming treatments without fear of losing federal funding.
Challenge to Military Ban
Two days later, on February 6, Lambda Legal and HRC filed a second lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s reinstatement of a ban on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military. The lawsuit represents six actively serving transgender service members, a transgender individual seeking to enlist, and the civil rights organization Gender Justice League.
The administration’s policy reverses prior regulations that allowed transgender individuals to serve openly. Advocates argue that the ban is rooted in discrimination rather than legitimate military concerns.
“Transgender Americans have served with honor and distinction, and this ban is nothing more than a baseless, unconstitutional attack,” said Sarah Warbelow, legal director at HRC. “We will fight for their right to serve and be treated with dignity.”
Broader Impact and Next Steps
These legal challenges mark a significant moment in the ongoing battle over LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. With federal courts set to review the cases, advocates remain hopeful that the judiciary will strike down what they see as politically motivated policies aimed at rolling back transgender rights.
Legal experts predict that these cases could ultimately reach the Supreme Court, setting up a critical legal battle over the future of transgender rights in America. Meanwhile, advocates continue to urge Congress to pass legislative protections to prevent further executive overreach on LGBTQ+ issues.
Both lawsuits are expected to move quickly through the court system as Lambda Legal and its partners push for immediate relief.
For more updates, visit Lambda Legal’s website or follow developments on ACLU’s page.
