Letitia James says NY state law overrides Trump's Executive Order

N.Y. AG Tells Hospitals to Continue Trans Care After Trump's Order

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday told hospitals that they would be violating state law if they stop offering gender transition care for people under age 19 in response to an executive order from President Donald Trump aimed at curtailing federal funding for such treatments.

In a letter, James, a Democrat, told health care facilities that refusing to provide the treatments would violate New York's anti-discrimination laws.

"Regardless of the availability of federal funding, we write to further remind you of your obligations to comply with New York State laws," her letter reads.

Trump last week signed an executive order that directed agencies to take steps to make sure that hospitals receiving federal research and education grants “end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children.” The language in the order was tough — using words such as “maiming,” “sterilizing” and “mutilation.”

Read more at Newsmax

An executive order is a directive from the President that has much of the same power as a federal law. While an executive order can have the same effect as a federal law under certain circumstances, Congress can pass a new law to override an executive order, subject to a presidential veto.