Federal judge blocks FTC probes into trans medicine groups, citing 'extensive evidence of animus'

"Chief Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted preliminary injunctions to both the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and the Endocrine Society, temporarily halting FTC investigations that the groups argued were politically motivated and unconstitutional."

"The agency issued civil investigative demands, or CIDs, seeking years of internal records, communications, financial information, conference materials, and documents related to medical guidance on transgender care. The investigations began earlier this year amid the administration's broader effort to target institutions connected to gender-affirming treatment for trans youth."

"The complaints argued the FTC was not conducting ordinary consumer protection oversight, but instead attempting to chill scientific debate, suppress protected medical speech, and deter physicians and researchers from participating in discussions about health care for transgender people."

"Boasberg appeared deeply skeptical of the administration's motives in both rulings, repeatedly pointing to what he described as evidence of hostility toward the organizations and their views on clinical standards for gender dysphoria treatment."

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. issued preliminary injunctions preventing the FTC from enforcing civil investigative demands against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and the Endocrine Society. The groups argued the investigations were politically motivated and unconstitutional. The FTC sought extensive internal records, communications, financial information, conference materials, and documents related to medical guidance on transgender care. The investigations began amid broader efforts to target institutions connected to gender-affirming treatment for trans youth. The complaints claimed the FTC was not performing ordinary consumer protection oversight, but instead attempting to chill scientific debate, suppress protected medical speech, and deter physicians and researchers from participating in transgender health care discussions. The judge expressed skepticism about the administration’s motives and pointed to evidence of hostility toward the organizations’ views on clinical standards for gender dysphoria treatment.

Read at Advocate.com