A federal court in Massachusetts has blocked the Trump administration from restricting gender marker options in U.S. passports. The decision by Judge Julia Kobick prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from limiting choices to “M” or “F,” thereby overturning the definition of “biological reality” introduced by Trump through Executive Order 14168. Initially, the injunction applied only to six plaintiffs, but it now covers all individuals whose passports have expired, who need a new one, or whose passport has been stolen. As a result, the third option “X” for nonbinary and transgender people remains available for now - a clear victory for those affected.
At the same time, Judge Mary McElroy in Rhode Island ruled that the federal government may not cut public health funding for cities such as New York, Atlanta, Portland, or Denver. The planned reduction of eleven billion dollars would have significantly weakened programs for mental health, pandemic preparedness, and elder care. The Department of Health and Human Services argued that the state of emergency due to the pandemic had ended - but McElroy stated this was not sufficient to revoke existing federal funding obligations to the states. She called the Trump administration’s initiative a “baseless political maneuver” primarily targeting Democrat-led regions.
Both rulings exemplify the growing legal resistance against central pillars of Trump’s second term. Whether regarding LGBTQ rights or the funding of public services - the judiciary is demanding justification, proportionality, and the protection of minorities. Especially the preliminary injunction in the passport case could become a lasting precedent. While the White House is already considering an appeal, the rulings send a clear message - federal judges are not willing to place political narratives above the rule of law.
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