A federal judge just made a powerful stand for common sense, clear laws, and the Constitution. On October 22, Judge Louis Guirola ruled that the Biden-era rule forcing doctors and hospitals to perform transgender-related procedures was unlawful. This decision is a victory for states’ rights, the rule of law, and the proper meaning of the word “sex” in federal law.
The case began when 15 states, including Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Oklahoma, sued the federal government. They said the rule from Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) went too far. That rule, issued in May 2024, redefined “sex discrimination” to mean that doctors and health care providers would have to offer so-called “gender-affirming care.” That includes hormone treatments and surgeries for people who say they identify as a gender different from their biological sex.
But here’s the key: Congress never gave HHS the power to do this. The rule claimed authority under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. But that law simply says health care providers can’t discriminate “on the ground prohibited under Title IX.” That’s a 1972 law that banned sex-based discrimination in education. And back in 1972, everyone knew what “sex” meant—it meant male or female. It did not mean gender identity or transgender status.
Judge Guirola made that point crystal clear. He said that when we read laws, we must understand what words meant at the time the law was passed. That’s not just common sense—it’s how the Constitution tells us to read laws. Congress writes laws, not unelected bureaucrats in federal agencies. And if Congress didn’t say “gender identity,” then the agency can’t just add it in later.
This is what constitutional originalism is all about. Judges are not supposed to rewrite laws to match what’s popular or politically correct today. They are supposed to interpret laws as they were written. The judge even quoted a 1951 Supreme Court case that said a law “cannot be divorced from the circumstances existing at the time it was passed.” That’s exactly right.
This ruling lines up with President Trump’s executive orders earlier this year. On his first day back in office, he signed Executive Order 14168, making it federal policy to recognize two sexes—male and female. A week later, he signed Executive Order 14187, saying the federal government would not fund or support gender transitions for children. These orders show clear leadership and a return to biological reality.
The Biden rule would have forced doctors and nurses across the country to perform procedures that many believe are harmful, especially for children. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said it well: “Health care providers should not be forced to go to such extremes as providing irreversible gender transition surgeries.” Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti also praised the ruling, saying it restores “constitutional limits on federal overreach.”
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about hate or discrimination. It’s about protecting children, respecting science, and following the law. No child should be pushed into life-changing surgeries they may regret. No doctor should be forced to go against their conscience or medical judgment. And no federal agency should be allowed to twist the meaning of laws passed by Congress.
This ruling is a strong reminder that the Constitution still matters. It reminds us that federal power has limits, and that states still have a say in how they care for their people. It also shows how important it is to have judges who respect the original meaning of our laws.
The Biden administration tried to sneak radical gender ideology into every corner of American health care. But the courts, backed by strong state leadership and President Trump’s clear policies, have pushed back. That’s how the system is supposed to work. When one branch of government overreaches, the others must stand firm.
This is a win for our children, our doctors, and our Constitution. Let’s keep standing for truth, biology, and the rule of law.
