Judge blocks DOJ subpoena in Boston gender-affirming care investigation

A federal judge thwarted the Trump administration’s attempt to subpoena medical records of transgender patients who received “gender-affirming care” at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Biden-appointed District Judge Myong J. Joun granted the hospital’s request to block the subpoena, calling the Justice Department’s investigation “motivated only by bad faith,” The Hill reported.

A subpoena sent to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia made waves went it went public in June and reportedly requested “patients’ birth dates, Social Security numbers and home addresses, as well as ‘every writing or record of whatever type’ from doctors related to the provision of gender-affirming care to adolescents under the age of 19,” The Hill reported.

Joun wrote that the Trump administration has made its “disapproval” of the transgender community “well known.”

“The subpoena reflects those goals, comprising overbroad requests for documents and information seemingly unrelated to investigating fraud or unlawful off-label promotion,” Joun wrote. “It is abundantly clear that the true purpose of issuing the subpoena is to interfere with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ right to protect [gender-affirming care] within its borders, to harass and intimidate [Boston Children’s Hospital] to stop providing such care, and to dissuade patients from seeking such care.”

Judge blocked DOJ’s subpoena of Boston Children’s Hospital, finding DOJ issued it due to “disapproval of the transgender community.”

DOJ is investigating pediatric gender med billing practices and more.

Judge thinks DOJ is not “investigating fraud” pic.twitter.com/49u30M9q7o

— Glenna Goldis (@glennagoldis) September 9, 2025

Joun accused the subpoena of being “in direct contradiction with the Massachusetts constitution.”

“It is thus difficult to understand what exactly the government is trying to investigate [Boston Children’s Hospital] for,” Joun wrote.

Boston Children’s Hospital spokeswoman Kristen Dattoli was pleased with Joun’s ruling. [The hospital] is grateful for the court’s ruling, which safeguards the privacy of our patients, their families, and the healthcare professionals who provide their care,” she wrote in a statement.

“Access to gender-affirming care is a protected right under Massachusetts law, and we remain committed to providing safe, evidence-based, and compassionate care for every patient and their family,” she said.

The Justice Department did not directly respond to Joun’s order.

“As Attorney General Bondi has made clear, this Department of Justice will use every legal and law enforcement tool available to protect innocent children from being mutilated under the guise of ‘care,’” the spokesperson said.

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