A federal judge in Oregon ruled that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. exceeded his authority when he declared last December that gender-transition treatments for minors do not meet professional standards. The decision delivers a setback to the Trump administration's efforts to cut federal funding to hospitals providing such care.

Judge Mustafa Kasubhai found that Kennedy's 12-page declaration violated the Administrative Procedure Act by attempting to unilaterally establish national medical standards. The ruling provides temporary relief to 21 Democratic-led states that had sued over the declaration, which threatened to bar institutions from receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds if they continued providing gender-transition care to minors.

The Trump administration had argued it could deny funding to providers failing to meet professional standards, but the judge said Kennedy failed to follow proper procedures before issuing his declaration. The decision comes amid ongoing debates about gender-transition treatments for minors, with 27 Republican-led states having banned such care while Democratic-led states continue to allow it.