Battle Over Pediatric Gender-Affirming Care Sparks Legal Clash

The American Academy of Pediatrics has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, accusing it of an unconstitutional investigation into its support for gender-affirming care for transgender youth, which the group claims is in retaliation for its stance against policies of the Trump administration.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) initiated legal action on Tuesday, challenging the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) investigation into its support for gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The lawsuit claims this probe is a retaliatory move by the Trump administration, in response to AAP's stance.

The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Washington, D.C., states that the FTC's demand for information is overly broad and part of an unconstitutional effort violating freedom of speech protections. AAP argues the FTC is overstepping its statutory authority and seeks a court order to block the document request.

The FTC, a federal agency that enforces antitrust and consumer protection laws, did not immediately comment. This investigation follows executive orders from January 2025, under Trump, to limit support for gender-affirming care. AAP, an organization with 67,000 members, also continues to contest changes in vaccine policy by federal health regulators.

(With inputs from agencies.)