Medical Records of Over 3,000 Transgender Youth Protected from Federal Subpoena After Legal Challenge

DOJ Settlement Marks Win for Health Privacy and Constitutional Rights

January 23, 2026, Washington, D.C.— The Department of Justice has withdrawn its subpoena demanding the medical records of over 3,000 transgender youth at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and entered into a settlement agreement with a group of patients and their families, represented by Lawyers for Good Government, Western Center on Law and Poverty, and Impact Fund.

DOJ served the subpoena on Children’s Hospital Los Angeles this past summer, seeking sweeping access to minors' most sensitive medical records—including mental health treatment notes, prescribing information, and other deeply personal details—related to gender-affirming care. Our co-counsel team filed a motion to quash the subpoena on behalf of a putative class of affected patients and families in federal court in the Central District of California, arguing it violated patients' constitutional right to privacy and exceeded the government's legal authority.

“Our clients stepped up to protect their families and thousands of others by being plaintiffs in this lawsuit,” said Lori Rifkin, Litigation Director at Impact Fund. “Their bravery helps protect all of us from unlawful and discriminatory government intrusion into private health care decisions between patients, families, and doctors.”

The settlement agreement protects the anonymity of the affected youth and families while securing the withdrawal of the government's demands for their medical records and those of their fellow patients.

"This is a massive victory for every family that refused to be intimidated into backing down," said Khadijah Silver, Director of Gender Justice & Health Equity at Lawyers for Good Government. "The government's attempt to rifle through children's medical records was unconstitutional from the start. Today's settlement affirms what we've said all along: these families have done nothing wrong, and their children's privacy deserves protection."

“This settlement is a crucial affirmation that health care decisions belong in exam rooms, not government subpoenas. Youth, families, and medical providers have constitutional rights to privacy and dignity," said Cori Racela, Executive Director for Western Center on Law & Poverty. "No one's private health records should be turned into political ammunition--especially children. This ruling protects sensitive medical records, upholds the professional integrity of providers, and reinforces that families seeking lawful care are not suspects—they’re entitled to safety and confidentiality.”

Gender-affirming care remains legal in many states and is endorsed by every major medical association, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Endocrine Society. The investigation's underlying premise—that lawful medical treatment becomes fraudulent based solely on the identity of the patient receiving it—has been widely rejected by legal experts and medical professionals.

"Parents who follow medical advice and seek evidence-based treatment for their children should never be subjected to government harassment," said Amy Powell, Litigation Director at Lawyers for Good Government. "This settlement sends a clear message: constitutional rights matter, and families seeking legal medical care for their children are entitled to privacy and dignity."

MEDIA CONTACT: John Henry Frankel