Case: World Professional Association for Transgender Health v. Federal Trade Commission

1:26-cv-00532 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Feb. 18, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.) On February 18, 2026, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the Federal Trade Commission and its commissioners, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to block enforcement of a Civil Investigative Demand related to gender-affirming healthcare. The complaint asserted First Amendment and Fourth Amendment causes of action, allegin…

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.)

On February 18, 2026, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the Federal Trade Commission and its commissioners, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to block enforcement of a Civil Investigative Demand related to gender-affirming healthcare. The complaint asserted First Amendment and Fourth Amendment causes of action, alleging that the FTC unlawfully targeted WPATH’s noncommercial speech and used compulsory process to retaliate against and chill protected expression.  WPATH alleged that the FTC lacked jurisdiction and had issued an overbroad investigative demand as part of a politically motivated effort to undermine its Standards of Care and silence support for transgender healthcare. It sought declaratory relief and preliminary and permanent injunctions prohibiting the FTC from enforcing the CID or continuing its investigation.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72295218/parties/world-professional-association-for-transgender-health-v-federal-trade/


Judge(s)

Boasberg, James Emanuel (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Lowell, Abbe David (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-00532

Complaint

Feb. 18, 2026

Feb. 18, 2026

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72295218/world-professional-association-for-transgender-health-v-federal-trade/

Last updated Feb. 20, 2026, 10:27 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12252106) filed by WORLD PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR TRANSGENDER HEALTH. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons to FTC, # 4 Summons to Andrew N. Ferguson, # 5 Summons to Mark R. Meador, # 6 Summons to John Doe 1, # 7 Summons to John Doe 2, # 8 Summons to John Doe 3, # 9 Summons to USAO for D.C., # 10 Summons to Pamela J. Bondi)(Lowell, Abbe) (Entered: 02/18/2026)

1 Exhibit 1

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2 Civil Cover Sheet

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3 Summons to FTC

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4 Summons to Andrew N. Ferguson

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5 Summons to Mark R. Meador

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6 Summons to John Doe 1

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7 Summons to John Doe 2

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8 Summons to John Doe 3

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9 Summons to USAO for D.C.

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10 Summons to Pamela J. Bondi

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Feb. 18, 2026

Feb. 18, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

SUMMONS (5) Issued Electronically as to FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, ANDREW N. FERGUSON, MARK R. MEADOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zhcn) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

Feb. 19, 2026

Feb. 19, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Feb. 19, 2026

Feb. 19, 2026

Case Assigned to Chief Judge James E. Boasberg. (zhcn)

Feb. 19, 2026

Feb. 19, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Healthcare Access and Reproductive Issues

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 18, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-00532

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket