Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro Files Against DOJ Subpoena for Transgender Youth Medical Records

President Donald Trump's administration is aggressively attempting to restrict and investigate gender-affirming care (GAC) for transgender youth, including issuing subpoenas to medical providers like the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to obtain private medical records. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, joined by attorneys general from 14 other states, has opposed these subpoenas in court, arguing they violate state authority over healthcare regulation and threaten the doctor-patient trust by demanding highly confidential information without justification. The Department of Justice's subpoenas seek extensive personal data from patients and providers, under claims of healthcare fraud, which critics say is a pretext to end gender-affirming care despite no federal law prohibiting it. Additionally, the Trump administration is preparing federal rules to prohibit Medicaid and CHIP reimbursement for gender-affirming care for minors, potentially banning such care nationwide where not already outlawed by states. Legal challenges are underway as courts consider motions to limit the subpoenas' scope and preserve patient privacy and state regulatory rights. This campaign reflects a broader effort by the Trump administration to curtail access to medically necessary gender-affirming treatments for transgender youth, which healthcare experts warn could have severe consequences for this vulnerable population.