DOJ subpoena trans youth medical records

By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS – LGBTQ Politics

WASHINGTON, D.C. — (January 22, 2026) — A federal judge has struck down a Department of Justice (DOJ) subpoena seeking highly sensitive medical records from families of transgender youth, ruling that the government’s actions served no legitimate investigative purpose and amounted to intimidation.

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U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin ruled that the subpoena issued to Children’s National Hospital violated constitutional protections and improperly targeted families who sought gender-affirming healthcare for their children.

The subpoena demanded extensive private information, including home addresses, Social Security numbers, medical diagnoses, prescriptions, and parental authorization records from families whose children received care through the hospital’s Gender Development Program between 2020 and 2025.

Judge Rubin found the request to be overly broad, legally unsupported, and disconnected from any credible investigation.

“The Subpoena lacks a proper investigatory purpose,” Rubin wrote, adding that it appeared designed to advance the administration’s policy goal of restricting access to gender-affirming healthcare rather than enforcing federal law.

Families Granted Legal Standing

The DOJ argued that the families had no standing to challenge the subpoena because it was directed at hospital staff, not the patients themselves. The department also claimed the families filed their lawsuit after the agency’s deadline.

Judge Rubin rejected both arguments, ruling that the subpoena placed an undue burden on families and that parents were legally entitled to protect their children’s interests.

She emphasized that minors rely on guardians to safeguard their constitutional rights, particularly when sensitive medical information is involved.

Court Finds No Evidence of Healthcare Fraud

The DOJ claimed the subpoenas were part of an investigation into healthcare fraud and “off-label” prescribing of puberty blockers and hormone treatments.

However, Judge Rubin stated that government lawyers failed to provide any evidence supporting those claims.

The court noted that the Department presented no affidavits, complaints, whistleblower reports, or investigative records indicating wrongdoing by the hospital.

“The Government seeks to investigate patient care, not commerce,” Rubin wrote, explaining that the federal law cited by prosecutors regulates business practices — not medical treatment decisions.

“Classic Fishing Expedition,” Judge Says

In her ruling, Judge Rubin repeatedly criticized the scope and intent of the subpoena, calling it oppressive and unconstitutional.

“The Subpoena appears to have no purpose other than to intimidate and harass,” she wrote.
“It is the classic impermissible fishing expedition.”

The ruling echoes similar federal court decisions issued in September and November of last year, in which judges reached comparable conclusions about DOJ investigations into gender-affirming care providers.

Legal Advocates Praise Decision

Attorneys representing the families welcomed the ruling as a major victory for medical privacy.

Donovan Bendana of GLAD Law called the decision “a crucial affirmation of families’ rights,” while Jennifer Levi, Senior Director of Transgender and Queer Rights at GLAD, said the ruling reinforced limits on government intrusion into private healthcare.

Eve Hill of Brown, Goldstein & Levy added that the decision protects families from political interference in medical decisions.

Administration’s Broader Campaign Against Gender-Affirming Care

The ruling comes amid a wider effort by the current administration to restrict access to gender-affirming healthcare nationwide.

Earlier this year, a presidential executive order directed federal agencies to expand legal actions against providers, though portions of the order have been blocked by courts.

In April, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued guidance encouraging prosecutors to pursue cases related to youth gender-affirming care under federal criminal statutes, including references to female genital mutilation laws — despite medical experts stating such procedures are not performed in these contexts.

The DOJ also sought internal communications, employee records, and pharmaceutical correspondence dating back to 2020 from multiple healthcare providers.

Medical Community Supports Gender-Affirming Care

According to a 2025 JAMA analysis, fewer than 3,000 adolescents nationwide receive puberty blockers or hormone therapy.

Major medical organizations — including the American Medical Association, the Endocrine Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics — recognize gender-affirming care as evidence-based and medically appropriate for patients with gender dysphoria.

Medical experts have warned that restricting access could increase mental health risks among transgender youth, including anxiety, depression, and elevated suicide risk.

Broader Implications

While Judge Rubin’s ruling formally applies only to the eight families involved in the case, legal experts say the decision strengthens national precedent protecting patient privacy and limiting government overreach.

The ruling sends a clear message that federal investigative powers cannot be used to advance political objectives at the expense of constitutional rights.

For continued coverage of LGBTQ civil rights, healthcare policy, and federal court rulings impacting the community, follow JRL CHARTS LGBTQ Politics.