WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Thursday told the Trump administration that it could not move forward with a plan that would make it harder for seriously ill Americans to obtain or stay on Medicaid after work requirements take effect in January.

The ruling will apply in 25 states and the District of Columbia, all of which sued to challenge the policy. Those states and Washington, D.C., which are led by Democrats, will now be free from penalties for any mistakes they make in determining who is too sick to be required to work.

The work requirement was enacted in summer 2025 as part of Republicans’ major tax and domestic policy legislation.…