Federal judge blocks Trump and RFK effort to get more teens pregnant

A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking efforts by President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to restrict federal grants under the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper of the District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the Department of Health and Human Services likely violated federal law by imposing abstinence-focused conditions on grant recipients.

The ruling in Hennepin County v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services pauses the administration's policy changes introduced earlier this year. Judge Cooper stated that the policy shift was likely arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. He noted that Congress authorized the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program to fund a broad range of evidence-based strategies rather than strictly abstinence-based approaches. Cooper also criticized the administration's emphasis on body literacy, describing it as a nebulous concept elevating fertility over established contraception, while pointing out that cited public health studies appeared nonexistent or misapplied.

The policy introduced by the Health and Human Services Department in June canceled 53 of 66 active Teen Pregnancy Prevention grants worth approximately $67 million. The cuts impacted public universities, local health departments, and non-profit organizations providing comprehensive sex education, contraceptive information, and communication training for youth. In the 2027 federal budget proposal, the administration described non-abstinence programs as promoting radical ideology, disputing their role in the historic 65 percent decline in U.S. teen pregnancies over the past 16 years.

The lawsuit was brought by Hennepin County in Minnesota, King County in Washington state, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. The plaintiffs were represented by legal advocacy groups Public Citizen and Democracy Forward.

Advocates for comprehensive sex education welcomed the decision while emphasizing that funding disruptions continue to affect local communities. Callie Simon, executive director of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, said the ruling sends a clear message that evidence-based programs cannot be replaced with ideologically driven alternatives. Sandra J. Valenciano, public health director for Seattle and King County, noted that the grant funding had supported studies on science-based sex education curricula for young men. Ruth Richardson, president of Planned Parenthood North Central States, added that attacks on evidence-based youth education put young people at risk and increase public costs.

Although the preliminary injunction pauses the new grant policy, Judge Cooper did not immediately order the reinstatement of the terminated grants, citing questions regarding judicial authority. The court directed both parties to submit a proposed schedule for future legal proceedings by September 1 as plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction.

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