Biden Condemns Texas Governor's Anti-Trans Child Abuse Directive

President Joe Biden released a statement Wednesday evening condemning what he called "a cynical and dangerous campaign targeting transgender children and their parents" by elected officials in Texas.

He pointed to last week's directive by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that seeks to open child abuse investigations into families providing access to gender-affirming health care to their children.

The statement comes a day after several LGBTQ+ rights groups sued the state over the order. On Wednesday, a judge granted a temporary stop to the state's investigation into a state employee and her family over her and her husband's support of their trans child's care.

Biden called Abbott's order "government overreach at its worst."

"Like so many anti-transgender attacks proliferating in states across the country, the Governor's actions callously threaten to harm children and their families just to score political points. These actions are terrifying many families in Texas and beyond. And they must stop," Biden said.

The president announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will take new actions to help trans youth in Texas and their families.

Biden also reiterated his comments from his State of the Union speech: "I'll always have your back as your President so you can be yourself and reach your God-given potential." He said that he and First Lady Jill Biden stand with trans children and their families in Texas and around the country.

"Transgender children bring fulfillment to their parents, joy to their friends, and are made in the image of God," the president said. "Affirming a transgender child's identity is one of the best things a parent, teacher, or doctor can do to help keep children from harm, and parents who love and affirm their children should be applauded and supported, not threatened, investigated, or stigmatized."