New jersey vows to defy trump order restricting gender-affirming care for children

New Jersey vows to defy Trump order restricting gender-affirming care for children

Posted by
1 min read
February 6, 2025

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.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss