Judge Katherine Polk Failla blocks Trump DOJ subpoena on trans youth medical records in New York

U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla issued a temporary restraining order that bars the Department of Justice from obtaining the medical records of transgender minors who received gender‑affirming care at New York City hospitals, including NYU Langone Health and Mount Sinai Health System. The order also provisionally certifies a class covering patients who received such care from January 2020 through May 2026. Failla ruled that the subpoenas, issued via a Texas grand‑jury grand jury, violate the Fourth and Fifth Amendments and constitute an “improper fishing expedition” targeting a vulnerable group. The decision follows a series of similar rulings across the country that have blocked the Trump administration’s attempts to seize private health data. Plaintiff groups Lambda Legal, the ACLU and the New York Civil Liberties Union hailed the ruling as a victory for patient privacy, with Omar Gonzalez‑Pagan stating, “This is a victory for the basic privacy of our clients and all families like theirs across New York City.” The injunction is set to remain in effect pending a follow‑up hearing.