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Governor Kotek praises federal ruling protecting access to gender-affirming care
Summary
Governor Kotek said a federal judge blocked an attempt to change rules that would have limited federal funding to hospitals and clinicians who provide gender-affirming care to young people and pledged that Oregon will protect access for patients and providers.
Governor Kotek said a federal judge recently ruled that the Trump administration cannot change rules to restrict federal funding to hospitals and doctors who provide gender-affirming care to young people, and she welcomed the decision as a protection for patients and clinicians.
Kotek framed the ruling as safeguarding who gets to make medical decisions. "This matters because decisions about health care belong to patients, their families, and their providers, not the government," she said, arguing the proposed restrictions would have put providers at risk of losing funding for offering medically necessary care.
Kotek described the attempted policy change as intended "to silence health care providers," and said she was "glad the court agreed with us." She also noted that gender-affirming care is recognized by major medical organizations and "plays an important role in helping young people stay safe, healthy, and supported for who they are."
Addressing young people who depend on the care, Kotek said, "I wanted you to know I have your back. Your health and well-being matter. Stay strong." The statement did not announce any new state actions or specific policy changes; it was presented as a public response to the federal court ruling.
