In United States v. Skrmetti, the Supreme Court addressed a Tennessee law banning what type of medical treatment for minors?

In the significant Supreme Court case of United States v. Skrmetti, the justices considered a Tennessee law that specifically prohibited certain medical treatments for minors. This legislation, known as Senate Bill 1, banned what is commonly referred to as gender-affirming care for individuals under the age of 18. This care includes interventions such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries when the purpose is to align a minor's identity with a gender different from the one assigned at birth, or to alleviate distress from gender discordance.

On June 18, 2025, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision upholding the Tennessee law. The Court determined that the law did not classify on the basis of sex in a manner that would necessitate "heightened scrutiny" under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Instead, the Court applied a "rational basis" review, concluding that Tennessee had "plausible reasons" for restricting access to these medical treatments, citing concerns about health risks.

This ruling has broad implications, as Tennessee is one of many states that have enacted similar bans on gender-affirming care for minors. While the law prevents these specific treatments for gender dysphoria, it permits the same medications for other medical conditions, drawing a distinction based on the medical use and age rather than transgender status itself, according to the Court's majority opinion. The case represents the Supreme Court's first direct engagement with the constitutionality of such bans, leaving open further questions regarding transgender rights in other contexts.