Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti on Friday released a statement praising the Trump administration for reversing the position held by the Biden-era Department of Justice (DOJ) in the lawsuit targeting the Volunteer State’s law banning transgender surgeries, puberty blockers, and other treatments for children, which is now being decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Skrmetti made the statement in a post to the social media platform X yesterday, where he also cautioned that the Supreme Court has yet to release a final ruling, despite the federal government dropping its previous support for the non-government plaintiffs that sought to allow minors to receive transgender treatments.
“A bipartisan coalition of Tennessee’s elected lawmakers reviewed developing medical evidence and prohibited gender transition procedures for kids, procedures that are life-altering and often irreversible. This commonsense protection for minors parallels similar moves in half of the States as well as a growing number of European countries,” said Skrmetti.
The attorney general then offered praise for the Trump administration.
He stated, “We commend President Trump for abandoning the previous administration’s effort to enshrine gender ideology into the Constitution and prevent the people’s elected officials from resolving these important and contentious issues.”
Skrmetti then noted, “there remains a live controversy between the private plaintiffs and Tennessee that, consistent with the Supreme Court’s prior practices and the Constitution, can and should be resolved. We look forward to receiving much-needed clarity when the Court issues its decision.”
.@AGTennessee Skrmetti releases a statement following President Trump's Administration abandoning previous executive efforts to enshrine gender ideology into the Constitution.
DOJ letter to SCOTUS ➡️ https://t.co/pYDrdHz8Cp pic.twitter.com/9GIub6MUVP
— TN Attorney General (@AGTennessee) February 7, 2025
The letter referenced by Skrmetti sent by the Trump administration’s DOJ, which notified the high court, “that the government’s previously stated views no longer represent the United States’ position.”
In addition to notifying the court of its new position, the DOJ urged it not to dismiss the lawsuit, but rather to rule in Tennessee’s favor in order to influence “many cases pending in the lower courts.”
Representatives from the attorney general’s office traveled to Washington, D.C. to argue the case before the Supreme Court in December. Skrmetti projected confidence after, predicting that a potential victory would be “a significant constitutional statement,” and drive “a lot of change” through a newly established “litigation risk” from the ruling.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “AG Jonathan Skrmetti” by AG Jonathan Skrmetti.
