A federal judge has ruled against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s directive that would have ended federal funding to hospitals providing gender-transition care to patients.

The court ruling provides temporary relief for 21 states that had challenged the Trump administration's policy change. The states argued that the directive overstepped federal authority and would harm healthcare access for transgender individuals.

Kennedy's directive, issued after he took office as HHS Secretary, sought to cut federal funding from medical facilities that offer gender-affirming treatments. The policy would have affected hospitals and healthcare systems that receive federal dollars while providing such care.

The 21 states filed legal action seeking to block the implementation of the funding restriction, arguing it violated federal law and would create significant disruptions to healthcare services. The states contended that the directive exceeded the administration's regulatory authority.

The judge's ruling is considered a temporary injunction while the broader legal challenge proceeds through the courts. The decision allows hospitals to continue receiving federal funding while providing gender-transition care during the ongoing litigation.