AG Kaul joins lawsuit challenging Trump Administration’s efforts to restrict healthcare for transgender youths

WISCONSIN (CIVIC MEDIA) – Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has joined a multistate lawsuit Friday that contends the Trump Administration’s attempts to restrict transgender youths from receiving healthcare.

According to a news release from Attorney General Kaul’s office, the lawsuit comes as a result of the federal government’s role in attempting to deter healthcare providers from offering their services to transgender residents under the age of 19 – even in states where such care is legal. Kaul and the coalition of attorney generals that filed the lawsuit argue that the Trump Administration is exceeding its authority by threatening the providers with criminal prosecution and federal investigations.

“The Trump administration shouldn’t be interfering with the provision of healthcare,” said AG Kaul. “The administration should be respecting individual liberty and equal rights, not shamefully targeting transgender people.”

Soon after being elected to a second term, President Trump signed an executive order restricting medically necessary healthcare for youths. The order defined those under the age of 19 as a child, describing transgender medical treatment as “chemical and surgical mutilation” – Wisconsin considers residents 18 years or older as adults.

The coalition has surmised that the intimidation tactics by the federal government have already had an impact. Some states have eliminated transgender care practices, and those that are in the process of receiving care are having their appointments cancelled. Kaul’s multistate lawsuit requests the federal judge to block the Trump Administration’s efforts and stop the enforcement of the executive order to prevent further harm to the impacted youths.

Attorney General Kaul’s participation in the lawsuit is the latest legal action the attorney general has taken against the federal government: he recently sued the administration for attempting to limit affordable healthcare and for its efforts in trying to obtain SNAP recipients’ personal information.

The coalition’s full complaint can be found here.