Attorney General Bonta Opposes Trump Administration’s Attempt to Suppress Healthcare Recommendations from Major Medical Organization

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta yesterday joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general in submitting an amicus brief opposing the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s lawsuit attempting to silence the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)’s recommended standards of care for transgender health. In yesterday’s brief, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition argue that the FTC’s actions not only infringe on states’ Constitutional right to regulate the practice of medicine but also threaten to damage the development of guidelines and policies across multiple fields of healthcare. 

“The Trump Administration is continuing its unfounded attacks against major medical and scientific organizations that provide guidance regarding transgender healthcare,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The FTC’s claims are a flagrant attempt to undermine our and other states’ right to enact policies that support and protect our residents’ well-being. We will continue to fight to defend evidence-based medical and scientific organizations — as well as the providers and patients they support — from Trump’s hateful agenda, and ensure all Americans retain access to medically necessary care.” 

In January of this year, the FTC issued a civil investigative demand (CID) to WPATH seeking extensive documentation on WPATH’s current “Standards of Care” guidance for providing healthcare to transgender patients. In February, WPATH filed with a motion to quash the CID with the FTC and filed a lawsuit against the FTC in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the FTC from implementing or enforcing its CID against WPATH. In June, the district court granted WPATH a preliminary injunction blocking the FTC from enforcing the CID. Shortly after, the FTC filed a lawsuit against WPATH in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, claiming that WPATH’s guidance is deceptive to consumers and medical providers. On July 28, 2026, WPATH filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. 

In yesterday’s amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition urge the district court to grant WPATH’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. In the brief, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition argue that:

• The FTC seeks to undermine states’ right under the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution to maximize the health and well-being of their residents by enacting laws and policies surrounding the practice of medicine.
• The FTC’s efforts could damage the development of healthcare guidelines and policies beyond transgender healthcare and across multiple medical fields.

In filing yesterday’s brief, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Massachusetts, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

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