FTC sues – The Federal Trade Commission and four states filed suit in federal court against the Chicago-area nonprofit World Professional Association for Transgender Health, alleging it made deceptive claims about gender-affirming care for minors and profited from those
On Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission turned its sights on a Chicago-area medical nonprofit that has long helped set standards of care for transgender youth—seeking a permanent injunction and financial penalties as federal pressure on gender-affirming treatment continues to mount.
The FTC and four states sued the East Dundee-based World Professional Association for Transgender Health in Northern Texas federal court. The complaint alleges WPATH made deceptive claims about gender-affirming care for minors and profited from those efforts.
The agency, joined by Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas, asked a federal judge to issue a permanent injunction against WPATH based on “future violations of the FTC Act.” The states also sought civil penalties and other financial awards for each of the states.
The lawsuit comes after the FTC previously attempted an investigation into WPATH. WPATH challenged that probe, arguing the agency was violating its First Amendment rights. In May, a federal judge ruled in favor of WPATH and temporarily blocked the investigation from continuing.
WPATH responded to the new filing by saying a federal court has already ruled against the FTC when it blocked the investigation. and that the agency has now brought what it called a “similarly baseless actual complaint. ” enlisting what the group described as the administration’s “go-to. obedient state attorneys general” to carry out what it called the administration’s “unlawful bidding.”.
In its statement. WPATH said it is in a “strong position” to show the FTC is acting out of retaliation as part of what the group called the federal government’s “relentless and targeted campaign to undermine gender-affirming care by attacking the First Amendment rights and the independence of professional medical organizations.”.
The fight over WPATH’s role in shaping clinical guidance sits inside a wider push by the Trump administration and allies to characterize gender-affirming care as “harmful. ” putting the government at odds with dozens of major medical organizations. Hospitals across the country. including those in the Chicago area. have cut treatment for thousands of patients out of fear of federal reprisals.
The new case arrived just three months after a nationwide coalition of attorneys general—including Illinois attorney general Kwame Raoul—successfully sued the Trump administration over an attempted ban on gender affirming care for trans youth.
The broader legal pressure has also taken other forms. In March, a federal judge in Oregon ruled that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not go through the proper administrative procedures when issuing a declaration last year warning doctors they could be excluded from Medicare and Medicaid if they provided gender-affirming treatments.
Separately, the Department of Justice has issued more than 20 subpoenas for patient data regarding gender-affirming care, though no charges have been announced.
Within the executive branch. leaders at the Department of Health and Human Services praised the FTC’s move. pointing to an HHS review that questioned WPATH standards. The review cited the lead researchers on a controversial Northwestern study on trans youth. Major medical groups and clinicians who treat transgender young people criticized that report as inaccurate.
Gender-affirming care for transgender youth under standards widely used in the United States typically involves creating a plan with medical experts and family members. Those plans include talk therapy and can, but does not always, include puberty blockers or hormone treatment.
A five-year study of those on commercial insurance released this year found that fewer than 1 in 1,000 adolescents in the United States received either of those gender-affirming medications.
WPATH says it has established widely accepted medical standards for gender-affirming care for more than 50 years. based on “established scientific standards. expert consensus and patient-centered values.” In a statement. the group said its guidelines call for care tailored to individual patients rather than a “one size fits all” approach.
“Transgender and gender-diverse patients deserve the highest level of care from their medical professionals,” WPATH said, adding that its standards are “designed to promote this through open dialogue and clear communication.”
The FTC suit in Northern Texas adds a fresh legal front to a campaign that has already reshaped how many hospitals respond, with patients and families caught in the widening gap between federal scrutiny and clinical consensus.
FTC WPATH East Dundee transgender youth gender-affirming care Northern Texas lawsuit civil penalties First Amendment Kwame Raoul HHS review Medicare Medicaid exclusion
So they’re suing a nonprofit now? Wild.
I don’t even get it, like if they “set standards” isn’t that kinda the point? But deceptive claims… what did they say, like meds are guaranteed or something? Either way this sounds like politics more than consumer protection.
Wait, I thought this was about stopping the FTC investigation, not WPATH itself. The article says a judge blocked the investigation before, so how is this new lawsuit different? Also “youth care” just makes my stomach turn because it feels like everyone’s using kids as pawns.
FTC sues… okay but are they actually saying WPATH made stuff up, or is this just them being mad that gender-affirming care exists? I saw a headline somewhere that said “trans healthcare is under fire” and then it turns into a court case about “deceptive claims” so yeah I’m confused. If they get penalties, who pays, the kids? Like, I’m not saying either side is perfect but the states teaming up with the feds feels like retaliation from the start.