DOJ drops appeal of ruling that blocked subpoena for UPMC gender-affirming care records

The U.S. Department of Justice dropped its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked a subpoena for youth gender-affirming care records at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Chief U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon previously rejected the subpoena, a decision that is now final. Advocates celebrated the move as a victory for patient privacy, noting that UPMC has not released any requested data, while criticizing the Trump administration's broader efforts to restrict gender-affirming care.

DOJ subpoena appeal withdrawal

• ▪The Public Interest Law Center and Ballard Spahr announced on August 10, 2026, that the federal district court ruling blocking the U.S. Department of Justice's subpoena is now final.
• ▪The U.S. Department of Justice withdrew its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked a subpoena seeking medical records of youth seeking gender-affirming care at UPMC.

Federal court rulings

• ▪Federal judges in Philadelphia, Colorado, and Washington state have ruled that the U.S. Department of Justice lacks the authority to require sensitive health data.
• ▪Chief U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon of the Western District Court of Pennsylvania reaffirmed in March 2026 her December 2025 denial of the U.S. Department of Justice's subpoena to UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Trump administration healthcare agreements

• ▪Public Interest Law Center director Mimi McKenzie stated that the Trump administration's Justice Department has reached agreements with healthcare providers nationwide to end gender-affirming care and establish de-transition clinics.
• ▪Public Interest Law Center director Mimi McKenzie urged UPMC to follow Pennsylvania law, where gender-affirming care is legal, and not enter agreements with the Trump administration to end such care.

Patient privacy protections

• ▪A UPMC spokesperson stated that the health system has not produced any of the patient medical records originally requested in the U.S. Department of Justice's subpoena.
• ▪Ballard Spahr partner Henry Hockeimer stated that the withdrawal of the appeal allows the minor patients and families represented in the litigation to avoid exposure of their personal medical information.

Gender-affirming care investigation

• ▪Chief U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon rejected an offer by the U.S. Department of Justice to accept anonymized patient records from UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
• ▪The U.S. Department of Justice originally issued a subpoena to UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in approximately July 2025, seeking medical records of youth seeking gender-affirming care.

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