Federal judge pauses Trump administration rules set to shrink ACA marketplaces

A federal judge in Maryland issued a stay blocking two Trump administration rules that would have reduced the number of navigators helping consumers enroll in Affordable Care Act plans and loosened network adequacy standards for 2027. The rules, finalized in May, were challenged by multiple state attorneys general who argued they would undermine marketplace stability and consumer protection. The stay halts implementation pending further litigation, preserving the current regulatory framework for the upcoming open enrollment period. This ruling prevents immediate disruption to ACA enrollment assistance, but the underlying legal fight over the scope of federal marketplace regulation continues. Track the case, *California v. Kennedy*, for the final outcome.