Temporary Block on Medical Record Subpoenas for Transgender Youth in California

Supporters of healthcare for transgender youth organized a march outside NYU Langone hospital in New York City in February 2025. Families of transgender youth in California received news this week that their private medical records will remain protected from the Trump administration. This follows a federal judge’s decision to temporarily prevent California hospitals from responding to criminal subpoenas from the Department of Justice (DOJ).

For almost a year, the DOJ has targeted hospitals with subpoenas, aiming to obtain detailed patient files of transgender youth, clinician personnel files, and related documents. Although government attorneys have not specified the exact focus of their investigation, they mentioned President Trump’s goal to eliminate gender-affirming care for young individuals.

Criminal Subpoenas to Hospitals

The DOJ initially issued administrative subpoenas, many of which were dismissed in court. They have now escalated to issuing criminal subpoenas in federal court in Texas. NYU Langone Medical Center publicly shared one of these subpoenas last month, indicating it is one of several institutions to receive them. The Trump administration refers to transgender healthcare as “sex-rejecting procedures” in their documentation.

Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, criticized the subpoenas as harassment, intended to intimidate doctors and parents. He emphasized that there have been no new justifications presented by the DOJ in their pursuit of these records.

Stanford Case Brought by Families

The recent victory in California is significant, according to Minter. A group of six families from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford filed a lawsuit to prevent the hospital from sending their medical files to the DOJ. A federal judge in California issued a temporary restraining order, ensuring protection across the state.

The DOJ stated it will use all tools at its disposal to “protect innocent children from being mutilated under the guise of ‘care.'”

‘Long Journey to Survive’

Arne Johnson, a parent of a transgender teen in the Bay Area and a Rainbow Families Action volunteer, expressed relief over this temporary win. Although not directly involved in the lawsuit, he appreciated the efforts of those fighting for the families. Johnson emotionally acknowledged the resolve of families and attorneys in protecting transgender youth.

Minter noted that the legal battles against the Trump administration’s efforts have been largely effective. There’s no evidence of hospitals turning over records, although it’s hard to know for certain.

Many hospitals and clinics providing gender-affirming care have ceased their programs due to legal and financial pressures. Recently, a federal judge in Maryland denied a nationwide class certification for families of transgender youth challenging the administrative subpoenas.

Craig Konnoth, a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law specializing in health law and LGBTQ rights, highlighted the unprecedented nature of the federal government’s attempts to access private medical records. He warned that such actions could extend beyond transgender youth, impacting larger civil liberties and privacy concerns.