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Federal Judge Blasts “Untrustworthy” DOJ Over Gender Affirming Care

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14.05.2026

Federal Judge Blasts “Untrustworthy” DOJ Over Gender Affirming Care

The Department of Justice “under oath, misrepresented salient facts” according to Rhode Island Judge Mary McElroy.

A federal judge sharply rebuked the Department of Justice Wednesday, calling out a subpoena to a Rhode Island children’s hospital for having “under oath, misrepresented salient facts.”

Judge Mary McElroy of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island said that Rhode ‌Island Hospital didn’t have to comply with the government’s subpoena for the medical records of minors treated for gender dysphoria with drugs such as puberty blockers, among other documents. Previously, a judge in Texas had ordered the subpoena at the government’s request.

“DOJ has proven unworthy of this trust at every point in this case. It has misrepresented and withheld information to both this Court and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas,” McElroy said in her ruling, and accused the government of forum shopping, or choosing a friendly district court to get a favorable ruling.

“It did so in an obvious effort to shield it’s recent investigative tactics—previously rejected by every other court to review them—from this Court’s review, in favor of a distant forum that DOJ deems friendly to its political positions,” McElroy’s ruling said.

The Trump administration is targeting transgender and gender-affirming care around the country, and has tried to subpoena other medical providers to get the same information, with mixed results. As a result, the DOJ has moved some of its legal efforts to Texas. In this case, another judge intervened to shoot them down, but what will happen next time?

Trump Secretary Keeps Bringing Up Biden When Asked What He’s Achieved

HUD Secretary Scott Turner couldn’t provide a single example of what he has done in the year-plus since he took office.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner crashed and burned Thursday when trying to defend the Trump’s administration’s massive budget cuts to his department.

Appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Turner repeatedly rehashed his issues with former President Joe Biden’s administration, which he claimed accomplished less with a larger budget—rather than provide any evidence of his own work. Lawmakers were fed up.

“What is your record? You’ve had this job for well over a year! I just want to know did you get the number down? Do we have 700,000 homeless still, or is it one million, or one million point five?” New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand asked.

Gillibrand demanded the results of the federal government’s Point-in-Time Count, a yearly report on how many people in the United States are experiencing homelessness. The report is typically released every December. As of mid-May, the Point-in-Time Count for 2025 has not been released.

“I just don’t want to hear what you don’t like about the Biden administration! You’re in charge, you have a vision, let’s see it, let’s see the results!” Gillibrand said.

“I thank God that I’m in charge so we can do stuff different, because the plays that were ran before I got here, they failed,” the former professional football player said. Turner added: “You said I have been here a little bit over a year, but you all had, during the Biden administration, four years—”

“Stop talking about Biden!” Gillibrand interrupted. “Talk about your record!”

Turner proceeded to blame the delayed report on things that had nothing to do with Biden at all, including the 43-day government shutdown that “helps us to not be able to work,” and the “constant litigation” his department was facing.

Gillibrand pressed him to explain how the litigation slowed down his department’s work. Turner replied: “Irregardless of all of that, during the Biden administration, record funding—”

“Oh my God! If you talk about—it’s like, it’s like two children saying I didn’t do it, my brother did it!” Gillibrand said, clearly frustrated.

GILLIBRAND: What is your record?! I don't want to just hear about what you don't like about the Biden administrationSCOTT TURNER: During the Biden administra--GILLIBRAND: Stop talking about Biden! Talk about your recordTURNER: During the Biden administration--GILLIBRAND:… pic.twitter.com/E9XZM754nF— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 14, 2026

GILLIBRAND: What is your record?! I don't want to just hear about what you don't like about the Biden administrationSCOTT TURNER: During the Biden administra--GILLIBRAND: Stop talking about Biden! Talk about your recordTURNER: During the Biden administration--GILLIBRAND:… pic.twitter.com/E9XZM754nF

Washington Senator Patty Murray also pointed out that complaining about Biden had become Turner’s “go-to answer” for every single question. She pressed Turner to explain how he planned to help more people experiencing homelessness by gutting $10 billion from the department’s budget.

Turner replied: “Here’s what I’ll say, in the previous years before we got here, housing affordability was not at an all time high.”

PATTY MURRAY: Your budget cuts housing. Can you help more families with housing with $84b or $73.5b?SCOTT TURNER: Here's what I'll say. In the previous four years--MURRAY: Ok. This is the go-to answer for every secretary is to go back to Biden. I'm asking you about your… pic.twitter.com/ZNIwToZnBS— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 14, 2026

PATTY MURRAY: Your budget cuts housing. Can you help more families with housing with $84b or $73.5b?SCOTT TURNER: Here's what I'll say. In the previous four years--MURRAY: Ok. This is the go-to answer for every secretary is to go back to Biden. I'm asking you about your… pic.twitter.com/ZNIwToZnBS

Trump Team Is Panicking About Plan to Issue Pardons on His Birthday

Even some of Donald Trump’s advisers think he’s going too far.

Donald Trump is planning to celebrate America’s 250th birthday with hundreds of additional pardons.

Some people in the White House have expressed concerns that Trump’s heavy use of his pardon authority could bode poorly for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections, and that another batch could be even worse, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

The president is expected to announce the 250 pending pardons on either June 14—his birthday—or the Fourth of July.

“A White House official said there are always conversations about how to best carry out........

© New Republic