Feds pay Christian employers $210K to settle after court blocks transgender drug mandate

The Biden administration agreed to fork over $210,000 to cover attorney's fees and costs for the Christian Employers Alliance in the latter's lawsuit against the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Health and Human Services, according to a fee settlement made public Wednesday.

The agencies forced CEA's members to cover so-called gender affirming care in health plans and perform hormone and surgical treatments to resemble the opposite sex under a loose interpretation of "sex" in federal law.

A federal court sided with the plaintiffs earlier this year, saying "CEA’s religious beliefs are substantially burdened by the monetary penalties it faces for refusing to violate its beliefs" that "male and female are immutable realities defined by biological sex and that gender reassignment is contrary to Christian Values."

The Alliance Defending Freedom, on behalf of CEA, and federal defendants filed a stipulated dismissal Tuesday. It says "they have resolved the issue of Plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees and expenses."

ADF gave Just the News the fee settlement itself, which includes the $210,000 figure. ADF and CEA signed it Aug. 9, and the filing says the parties would file for dismissal within two weeks of the payment being sent.

"We’re pleased to favorably conclude this lawsuit on behalf of our clients and hold the administration accountable for trying to force unlawful mandates that disrespect people of faith," ADF Senior Counsel and Director of Regulatory Practice Matt Bowman said.