DOJ Ends Appeal Over Subpoenas Targeting Trans Youth at UPMC

The Justice Department filed a brief with the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals requesting that the government’s appeal of lower-court rulings blocking subpoenas for patient records at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh be voluntarily dismissed. The filing, submitted on a Monday, contains only a single paragraph of argument and asks the court to dismiss the consolidated appeal and allocate costs to each side. The families who challenged the subpoenas have not opposed the request, and the appeals court must still approve the dismissal before the case is formally closed. The Justice Department offered no explanation for abandoning the effort.

The Advocate

The appeal was part of a broader Trump-administration initiative that sought extensive medical information—including intake forms, consent documents, and records of puberty blockers and hormone therapy—from minors receiving gender-affirming care. The Justice Department announced the previous year that it had issued more than 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics nationwide. Some health systems have since halted gender-affirming services or entered settlements with the government.

The Advocate

Mimi McKenzie, legal director of the Public Interest Law Center, said the families and patients at UPMC can now rest easy because their private information will no longer be exposed to a hostile administration. She noted that the families had lived with the fear of federal harassment and the potential loss of confidential health data. The Justice Department’s filing did not include a rationale for the withdrawal.

The Advocate

McKenzie criticized the broader DOJ campaign, asserting that it seeks to end gender-affirming care and bolster “de-transition” clinics across the country. She urged UPMC not to follow the trend of discontinuing services, emphasizing that gender-affirming care is legal in Pennsylvania and that discrimination based on gender identity is prohibited under state law.

The Advocate

• The Justice Department reported issuing more than 20 subpoenas to health providers last year.

The Advocate

• In June 2025, UPMC announced it would cease providing gender-affirming care to patients younger than 19, citing liability concerns.

The Advocate

• The case’s dismissal marks the latest retreat in a series of federal actions that have pressured health systems to alter or stop such care.

The Advocate