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A federal judge in Maryland has blocked the U.S. Department of Justice from enforcing a sweeping subpoena that sought confidential medical records of transgender adolescents treated at Children’s National Hospital, calling the request an apparent attempt to “intimidate and harass” families and providers into abandoning care.
U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin ruled January 21, 2026, that the subpoena lacked a legitimate investigative purpose and functioned as an improper “fishing expedition,” according to her written opinion and reporting on the decision.
A Challenge Brought by Families, Not the Hospital
The case was filed by eight families whose children received care through the hospital’s gender development program. Their lawsuit sought emergency relief to prevent the government from accessing identifying details and sensitive medical records related to their children’s treatment.
Reuters reports that Children’s National Hospital did not initially move to quash the subpoena, even though the hospital later curtailed certain services amid legal uncertainty.
What the Judge Said the DOJ Failed to Show
In her opinion, Rubin found the Justice Department did not present adequate evidence to justify the breadth of what it demanded. She concluded the subpoena was not tied to a valid law enforcement inquiry and was instead structured to force compliance through pressure and anxiety.
Rubin wrote that the government appeared to be pursuing a policy goal, using investigatory tools to chill lawful medical care by triggering fear in patients, parents, and providers.
The ruling, however, is narrowly scoped. Rubin’s order blocks the enforcement of the subpoena as to the eight families who sued, rather than issuing a blanket prohibition that would automatically protect all patients potentially implicated.
Part of a Broader Federal Campaign
The decision lands amid a larger federal push targeting youth gender-affirming care. Reuters reports the DOJ issued more than 20 subpoenas nationwide, seeking records connected to providers offering gender-affirming treatment for minors.
Courts have increasingly rejected those efforts. On January 6, 2026, U.S. Magistrate Judge Cyrus Chung recommended quashing a similar DOJ subpoena served on Children’s Hospital Colorado, finding the request was issued for an improper purpose and emphasizing that executive agencies cannot create new enforcement standards without Congress.
Legal analysis tracking the litigation has described multiple federal courts, in several jurisdictions, moving to quash subpoenas tied to the same DOJ initiative.
The Executive Order Behind the Push
The subpoena campaign traces back to Executive Order 14187, signed January 28, 2025, which directed federal agencies to restrict federal support for gender-affirming care for people under 19 and urged stepped-up enforcement measures.
The order triggered immediate legal and operational ripple effects across the health care system, with multiple hospitals pausing or reevaluating care amid uncertainty over funding, investigations, and compliance risks.
Why the Decision Matters
Rubin’s ruling is a rare judicial opinion that does more than block a subpoena on technical grounds. It frames the government’s request as a misuse of federal investigative power aimed at discouraging a politically targeted category of medical care by raising the personal stakes for families.
At a time when hospitals are weighing whether to maintain specialized services under the threat of scrutiny, subpoenas, or funding disputes, the decision signals that courts may scrutinize motive and evidentiary foundation, not simply paperwork and procedure.
