Designated Placement Requirements under Titles IV-E and IV-B for LGBTQI+ Children; Rescission

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposes to remove the requirements issued in the final rule Designated Placement Requirements Under Titles IV-E and IV-B for LGBTQI+ Children (89 FR 34818) that was published on April 30, 2024. The final rule required title IV-E/IV-B agencies to ensure that a Designated Placement is available for all children who self-identify with an alternative sexual orientation or self-identify as something other than their sex in foster care who request or would benefit from such a placement. On June 13, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas vacated the final rule in its entirety, State of Texas v. United States Department of Health & Human Services, 770 F. Supp. 3d 940 (E.D. Tex. 2025), concluding that the final rule exceeded the Department of Health and Human Services' statutory authority and conflicted with the text of title IV-E. As a result of the court's decision, the final rule is no longer in effect or enforceable, and to ensure clarity for the public and regulated entities, ACF proposes to remove the provisions from the Code of Federal Regulations.