The rule prohibits healthcare providers and insurers from giving information about a legal abortion to state law enforcement authorities who are seeking to punish someone in connection with that abortion.

“HHS lacked clear delegated authority to fashion special protections for medical information produced by politically favored medical procedures,” wrote Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, a Republican, during his first term.

Kacsmaryk in December had blocked HHS from enforcing the rule against a Texas doctor who had brought the lawsuit, Carmen Purl, pending the outcome of the case. Wednesday’s decision blocks the rule nationwide.