The U.S. Department of Justice has asked the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss its appeal seeking medical records of transgender minors treated at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Families who challenged the subpoenas do not oppose the move; the DOJ offered no explanation for dropping the appeal. A federal judge had previously blocked the subpoenas and sharply criticized the government’s conduct. Advocates say the decision brings relief but warn that federal pressure on gender-affirming care providers continues nationwide.
DOJ Drops Appeal Seeking Trans Youths’ Medical Records From UPMC Clinic
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The U.S. Department of Justice has asked the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to voluntarily dismiss its consolidated appeal that sought sensitive medical records for transgender minors treated at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, signaling a likely end to one of the administration’s most aggressive legal actions targeting gender-affirming care for young people.
Brief Filing, Big Implications
The Justice Department’s filing was unusually short: a single paragraph asking the appeals court to dismiss the consolidated appeal and order that each side bear its own costs. The families who challenged the subpoenas told the court they do not oppose the dismissal. The appeals court must still grant the request before the case is formally closed.
Background
The dispute began after the DOJ sought extensive records from the UPMC clinic, including medical charts, intake paperwork, consent forms and parental authorizations related to puberty blockers and hormone therapy. A federal judge blocked the subpoenas, criticizing aspects of the government’s conduct as "unprecedented" and saying its rhetoric reflected "callous indifference, if not abject cruelty." The department subsequently appealed that ruling.
"The children we represented, their families, and all minor patients from UPMC's gender-affirming care clinic can now rest easy that their personal information will not be exposed to a hostile administration," said Mimi McKenzie, legal director of the Public Interest Law Center, in a statement to The Advocate.
Wider Campaign and Local Impact
The UPMC case unfolded amid a broader DOJ effort that the department has said involved more than 20 subpoenas to clinicians and clinics providing gender-affirming care. Federal courts nationwide have repeatedly blocked or narrowed similar demands for patient records. At the same time, some health systems have stopped offering such care or reached settlements with federal authorities; UPMC announced in June 2025 that it would stop providing gender-affirming care to patients under 19, citing liability concerns.
What Comes Next
Although the DOJ’s withdrawal from this appeal is a relief to the families involved, advocates and attorneys caution that the broader campaign of pressure on gender-affirming care providers continues. Attorneys for the plaintiffs say the department has reached agreements with some providers that have effectively curtailed care or promoted so-called “de-transition” services; they urged UPMC to adhere to Pennsylvania law, which permits gender-affirming care and prohibits gender-based discrimination.
The Advocate reported the original story. The publication has reached out to UPMC media relations for comment.
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