Executive Orders Are Not Enough: Why the Real Fight Is in the Courts
The EOs at a Glance
The Executive Orders issued by the President to protect children from irreversible medical interventions are a hard-won victory and a vital step forward. But while we celebrate this crucial momentum, we must face a sobering reality: Executive Orders are not permanent. The real, lasting battle for our children and families must be won in the courts, and CPRC is on the front lines of that fight to turn today’s policy wins into binding legal precedent.
Treatments continue in jurisdictions like California and New York, schools persist with secret affirmations, and private clinics operate freely—highlighting EOs' federal scope limitations. This gap reinforces CPRC's role: Through constitutional litigation, we address what EOs can't, ensuring parental primacy nationwide.
What EOs Achieve and What They Don’t
Executive Orders are powerful but temporary. They can be litigated by our opponents, delayed by activist judges, and reversed by the stroke of a pen from a future administration. They are not the permanent legal shield our families deserve.. While The President EOs rightly curb federal promotion of gender ideology, they cannot:
· Stop Rogue States: Eos do not override radical state laws that actively fund and promote these irreversible procedures on minors.
· End School Secrecy: Eos cannot reach into the thousands of local school districts where secret social transitions and ideological indoctrination begin, hidden from parents.
· Deliver Justice for Victims: Policy alone cannot correct the profound injustice already inflicted upon the children and families who have been harmed.
Implementation challenges abound—lawsuits from opponents can delay enforcement, as seen in prior EO battles. Legally, EOs lack permanence; a new administration could rescind them, unlike statutes or Supreme Court rulings. This leaves ongoing harms: Data shows thousands of minors still receiving blockers/hormones annually, with regret cases rising. CPRC's analysis ties this to constitutional voids—without judicial mandates, states evade federal signals, sustaining the "nightmare" of rushed interventions.
CPRC's Role and the Bigger Picture
“We fought for these Executive Orders, and they are a vital tool. But we cannot rest on temporary victories when our children’s safety is at stake,,” said Vernadette Broyles, CPRC President and Chief Counsel. “The real battle is won in the courts. Our lawsuits are designed to secure the permanent, binding precedent that will protect families for generations, regardless of who sits in the White House.”
CPRC's litigation is the tip of the spear in the fight for permanent protection. Our landmark cases on petition before the Supreme Court are strategically designed to do what EOs cannot: establish permanent, constitutionally grounded safeguards at the local level where the harm begins.
Foote v. Ludlow:
This case directly confronts the secret gender affirmation policies in schools that EOs cannot reach.. A win would enforce opt-outs nationwide, complementing federal directives.
Littlejohn v. School Board of Leon County:
This case seeks to establish a nationwide precedent for parental notification, dismantling the wall of secrecy that districts use to hide their actions from families.
CPRC litigates pro bono, absorbing costs for appeals to the highest courts—essential since most families lack resources. This ensures the cultural tide turns through precedent, not just policy. Without ongoing support, progress stalls; with it, we build on EOs to dismantle ideology at every level.
Join the Fight for Permanent Victory
Policy can change with the political winds. Precedent set by the courts is permanent. The path to lasting victory is through years of relentless litigation, and CPRC is committed to seeing this fight through to the end. But we cannot do it alone. We need allies who understand that the real battle lies ahead.
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Our Commitment
CPRC was founded to ensure no family stands alone against ideological overreach. This amicus surge proves we are not alone in this fight. The Constitution stands with us, and so does the growing national movement.