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44m ago

12 States Sue to Block HHS Funding Conditions Tied to Trump Order on Gender Policy

The coalition argues HHS unlawfully retrofitted grant rules to enforce a narrow reading of Title IX that excludes transgender protections.

U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces new nutrition policies during a press conference at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 8, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
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Overview

  • New York Attorney General Letitia James filed the case in federal court in Providence on behalf of 12 Democratic attorneys general, including California and Oregon.
  • The suit challenges new grant conditions imposed after President Donald Trump’s 2025 executive order directing agencies to end funding of “gender ideology” and to recognize only two sexes.
  • Plaintiffs say the policy is being applied retroactively, exposing recipients to grant terminations, repayment demands, and potential civil or criminal penalties.
  • The complaint contends HHS under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is using Title IX certifications to fold the executive order into grant requirements, with CMS and NIH among agencies adopting the language.
  • The states seek an injunction to prevent enforcement so health, education, and research funding continues as legal challenges proceed and related HHS proposals on youth gender-affirming care undergo further scrutiny.