In a significant legal win, Republicans successfully halted a controversial rule finalized in May by the Biden administration's Department of Health and Human Services. This rule extended the Affordable Care Act's ban on sex discrimination to mandate Medicaid coverage for sex change surgeries, including for minors.

Many Republican-led states, which prohibit sex change surgeries for minors, challenged the rule. A federal judge in the Southern District of Mississippi granted a preliminary injunction, indicating that the states are likely to prevail in their lawsuit. This injunction forces the Biden administration to pause the implementation of the rule.

This development highlights ongoing tensions around taxpayer funding for elective surgeries and the broader debate on the necessity and appropriateness of sex change procedures.