A U.S. judge has blocked the Biden administration from enforcing a new rule against discrimination on the basis of gender identity in health care. The rule, finalized in May, extended the federal prohibition on sex discrimination to include discrimination against transgender individuals. However, U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola in Gulfport, Mississippi sided with 15 Republican-led states that sued to challenge the rule, arguing that it exceeded the administration’s authority. The rule was set to take effect on Friday, but has been halted due to the judge’s ruling.
This ruling came after President Joe Biden issued an executive order in 2022 instructing federal agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services to take measures to ensure transgender people have access to health care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, who issued the rule, did not immediately respond to a request for comment following the judge’s decision.
The decision to block the rule has sparked controversy and debate, with supporters of the rule arguing that it is necessary to protect the rights and access to health care for transgender individuals, while opponents claim that it goes beyond the authority granted to the administration. The future of the rule remains uncertain as legal battles and arguments continue.
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