California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Rady Children’s Health on 30 January over its decision to shutter its gender-affirming care program for patients under the age of 19.

Last month, Rady announced the closure of its Center for Gender Affirming Care, effective 6 February.

As per a statement to the East Bay Times, Rady is withdrawing “medical interventions, procedures and prescriptions”, but will maintain “counselling, mental health resources and care coordination”.

READ MORE: California passes ‘anti-snitch’ law to prevent the forced outing of LGBTQ+ students by teachers

Rady Children’s Health is comprised of Children’s Hospital of Orange County and Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego after announcing a merger between their parent companies in January 2025.

In the lawsuit, Bonta argues that Rady’s decision to end care violates conditions placed by the attorney general himself on the merger.

“Rady Children’s Health has chosen to violate its merger agreement and California law in response to the Trump Administration’s illegal campaign against providers of gender-affirming care,” said Bonta in a statement.

“Rady flagrantly disregarded its legal obligations by unilaterally deciding to preemptively comply with the Administration’s demands and cease medically necessary care for roughly 1,450 patients.

“We will not allow Rady to violate its obligations to its patients and the State.

“We will fight to uphold the law and ensure Californians can access gender-affirming care without facing unfair roadblocks.”

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Florida health officials have reportedly paused plans to dramatically restrict access to the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program after advocates mounted a legal challenge.

In early January, the Florida Department of Health had proposed scaling back ADAP’s income eligibility from 400% of the federal poverty level to 130%, a change that could cut off lifesaving HIV medication for an estimated 16,000 people, according to an analysis by the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors.

In response, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation filed complaints with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings alleging the state failed to follow required rule-making procedures when adopting the new criteria.

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The nonprofit also filed a second lawsuit on Monday (2 February) seeking public records related to an “undocumented $120 million budget shortfall” which was was cited as motivation for the proposal.

The Florida Department of Health now appears to be stepping back from its 1 March deadline, as reported by WJHG.

It has also issued notices indicating the changes will now go through a formal public process.

Advocates say the pause opens the door for public input and greater transparency around the state’s claimed $120 million budget shortfall.

The proposed ADAP cuts come after the Trump administration moved to slash both domestic and international HIV/AIDS funding last year, in large part by dismantling USAID programs.

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