TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin joined 14 other attorneys general in opposing an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump, which seeks to eliminate federal support for gender-affirming care for minors. The coalition of attorneys general reaffirmed their commitment to protecting access to such medical treatments.
Trump’s executive order declares that gender-affirming procedures for minors amount to “maiming and sterilizing” children, asserting that the federal government will not fund or support medical interventions that alter a child’s sex. The order describes these treatments as “irreversible medical interventions” and claims they lead to long-term health complications.
In response, Platkin and his counterparts issued a joint statement rejecting Trump’s claims, arguing that gender-affirming care is essential and legally protected. “Health care decisions should be made by patients, families, and doctors, not by a politician trying to use his power to restrict your freedoms,” the statement said. The attorneys general also argued that there is no legal basis for the federal government to block funding for gender-affirming care.
The statement pointed to a recent federal court ruling that ordered the government to resume funding that had been frozen under the Trump administration. The Department of Justice has since confirmed that federal agencies cannot restrict funding based on the executive order, and the attorneys general vowed to challenge any further attempts to impede access to care.