Latest news with #federalprisons
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
US judge rules prisons must provide gender-affirming care for trans people
A US judge on Tuesday ruled the US Bureau of Prisons must keep providing transgender inmates gender-affirming care, despite an executive order Donald Trump signed on his first day back in office to halt funding for such care. US district judge Royce Lamberth in Washington DC allowed a group of more than 2,000 transgender inmates in federal prisons to pursue a lawsuit challenging the order as a class action. He ordered the Bureau of Prisons to provide them with hormone therapy and accommodations such as clothing and hair-removal devices while the lawsuit plays out. The ruling does not require the bureau to provide surgical care related to gender transitions. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said the Trump administration expects to ultimately prevail in the legal dispute. 'The district court's decision allowing transgender women, aka MEN, in women's prisons fundamentally makes women less safe and ignores the biological truth that there are only two genders,' Fields said in an email. The American Civil Liberties Union, which represents the prisoners, said the ruling was 'a critical reminder to the Trump administration that trans people, like all people, have constitutional rights that don't simply disappear because the president has decided to wage an ideological battle'. About 2,230 transgender inmates are housed in federal custodial facilities and halfway houses, according to the Department of Justice. About two-thirds of them, 1,506, are transgender women, most of whom are housed in men's prisons. The named plaintiffs, two transgender men and one transgender woman, sued the Trump administration in March to challenge Trump's January 20 executive order aimed at combating what the administration called 'gender ideology extremism.' The executive order directed the federal government to only recognize two, biologically distinct sexes, male and female; and house transgender women in men's prisons. It also ordered the bureau to stop spending any money on 'any medical procedure, treatment, or drug for the purpose of conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex'. Lamberth, appointed by Republican president Ronald Reagan, said in Tuesday's ruling that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their lawsuit because the bureau did not perform any analysis before cutting off treatment that its own medical staff had previously deemed to be medically appropriate for the inmates. Even if it had extensively studied the issue before deciding to stop gender-affirming care, the decision might still violate the US constitution's eighth amendment's protections against 'cruel and unusual' punishment, Lamberth wrote. The Department of Justice had argued that the judge should defer to the policy decision of a democratically elected president, but Lamberth said a functioning democracy requires respect for 'all duly enacted laws,' including those that blocked the executive branch from acting in an 'arbitrary and capricious' manner. Democratic self-governance 'does not mean blind submission to the whims of the most recent election-victor', Lamberth wrote. The executive order said it was meant to promote the 'dignity, safety, and wellbeing of women, and to stop the spread of 'gender ideology' which denies 'the immutable biological reality of sex'. But the inmates receiving hormone treatments had little interest in promoting any ideology, and were instead taking 'measures to lessen the personal anguish caused by their gender dysphoria,' Lamberth wrote.
Fox News
7 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Federal judge rules against Trump order halting sex change procedures in prisons
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to continue to provide accommodations and care for transgender inmates in federal prisons, saying officials had not provided a serious explanation for why medical treatment for gender dysphoria should be handled differently than other cases. The order Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, a Ronald Reagan appointee, blocks officials from carrying out President Donald Trump's executive order, which required Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) officials to stop providing medical procedures related to sex changes. "Neither the BOP nor the Executive Order provides any serious explanation as to why the treatment modalities covered by the Executive Order or implementing memoranda should be handled differently than any other mental health intervention," Lamberth wrote in a 36-page opinion. The judge granted an injunction requested by three transgender inmates diagnosed with gender dysphoria to block the implementation of Trump's executive order. Lamberth ruled the plaintiffs' merits are likely to succeed under the Administrative Procedure Act. "The import of the opinion is essentially this: Under the APA, the BOP may not arbitrarily deprive inmates of medications or other lifestyle accommodations that its own medical staff have deemed to be medically appropriate without considering the implications of that decision," Lamberth wrote. Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House. A BOP spokesperson told Fox News Digital the agency doesn't comment on pending litigation or matters that are the subject of legal proceedings. Trump's order mandated the BOP stop providing "any medical procedure, treatment, or drug for the purpose of conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex." Prior to Trump's reversal of BOP gender dysphoria policies, the BOP began funding transgender surgical procedures for transgender inmates in December 2022, with Donna Langan, formerly known as Peter Kevin Langan, becoming the first federal prisoner to undergo taxpayer-funded gender surgery. Langan was convicted in 1997 for involvement in a series of armed bank robberies across the Midwest during the 1990s. Langan was a leader of the Aryan Republican Army, a White supremacist group that carried out these robberies to fund their activities, according to court documents. Tuesday's ruling comes as judges continue to block parts of Trump's agenda.
Forbes
7 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
Judge Blocks Trump's Order On Trans Inmates
Federal prisons in the U.S. must provide hormone therapy and social accommodations for hundreds of transgender inmates, a judge ruled Tuesday, blocking an earlier executive order by President Donald Trump—an opponent of gender-affirming care—that prevented federal funds for their treatment. Trump issued an executive order blocking federal funds for 'the purpose of conforming an inmate's ... More appearance to that of the opposite sex.' Judge Royce Lamberth ruled neither the Bureau of Prisons nor Trump's executive order provided 'any serious explanation' as to why hormone therapy and social accommodations, including cosmetics and clothing that match the inmate's gender identity, should not be provided for more than 600 transgender inmates. Inmates who challenged Trump's order successfully argued their treatment is necessary to 'lessen the personal anguish' caused by their gender dysphoria, Lamberth said, noting the Bureau of Prisons did not dispute gender dysphoria could pose severe side effects, including anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Shortly after his inauguration, Trump ordered the Bureau of Prisons to revise its medical care policies to be consistent with other federal policies recognizing only two sexes, male and female, by ensuring federal funds aren't used for any medical procedure, treatment or drug 'for the purpose of conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex.' Trump's order also asked the Bureau of Prisons to make sure 'males are not detained in women's prisons,' with dozens of transgender women later moved to men's facilities, though Lamberth and other judges have challenged or blocked the transfer of some inmates. The Bureau of Prisons did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 2,198. That's how many transgender inmates are within the federal prison system as of Feb. 20, 2025, according to Bureau of Prisons data obtained by NPR. Trump targeted gender-affirming care and the transgender community early in his second presidency. His executive order, which he argued would defend women from 'gender ideology extremism,' declared the federal government would recognize male and female as the only two sexes. Trump issued another executive order in late January that limited access to gender transition surgeries for people younger than 19, after he said the U.S. would 'rigorously enforce' laws that 'prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures.' Trump's push against gender-affirming care follows a yearslong effort by dozens of states to bar or limit access. The U.S. military has asked transgender service members to voluntarily leave active-duty service by June 6, according to guidance issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. About 1,000 service members have disclosed being diagnosed with gender dysphoria and have agreed to leave, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement, though just over 4,000 transgender people serve in the military. Hegeth's guidance follows an earlier ruling by the Supreme Court, which said Trump could implement a ban on transgender people serving in the military.
CNN
7 days ago
- Health
- CNN
Judge blocks Trump from cutting off gender-affirming care for federal inmates
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to continue providing gender-affirming medication for transgender inmates in federal prisons, dealing the latest blow to a multi-pronged effort by the president to pull back federal support for transgender health care. 'All parties seem to agree that the named plaintiffs do, in fact, need hormone therapy,' US District Judge Royce Lamberth wrote. The preliminary injunction from Lamberth means that officials within the Bureau of Prisons cannot enforce guidance the agency's leadership issued earlier this year implementing President Donald Trump's order, which directed the agency to revise its policies to 'ensure that no Federal funds are expended for any medical procedure, treatment, or drug for the purpose of conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex.' Lamberth, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan, said a group of transgender inmates who had been medically diagnosed with gender dysphoria and who challenged BOP's guidance implementing the president's order were likely to succeed on their claim that the agency violated federal rulemaking procedures. They will continue to receive drugs as prescribed, the judge said. 'Nothing in the thin record before the Court suggests that either the BOP or the President consciously took stock of—much less studied—the potentially debilitating effects that the new policies could have on transgender inmates before the implementing memoranda came into force,' Lamberth wrote in the 36-page ruling. 'The BOP may not arbitrarily deprive inmates of medications or other lifestyle accommodations that its own medical staff have deemed to be medically appropriate without considering he implications of that decision.' Though the case was originally brought by three transgender inmates, Lamberth agreed to certify a class that consists of all federal inmates who are currently taking hormone therapy medication to treat their diagnosis of gender dysphoria, defined as the psychological distress an individual feels when their gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. Not every transgender individual has gender dysphoria. There are currently about 1,000 people in federal custody who are diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Lamberth noted that the BOP was continuing to give more than 600 inmates their prescribed hormone therapy medications, despite Trump's prior order. The Justice Department had tried to explain how the BOP was acting differently than the order said they should, Lamberth noted. A federal government lawyer at a recent hearing 'argued that the BOP's policy is to provide hormone therapy to inmates as necessary to address medical needs other than 'conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex,' such as to ameliorate anxiety, depression, or suicidality associated with gender dysphoria. Therefore, they argue, the BOP has the authority to provide not just some relief, but the very relief that the plaintiffs sought in their Complaint—to wit, restoration of their hormone therapy.' The case so far has highlighted the changing reality transgender inmates in federal prisons have faced since Trump took office in January. Three different inmates — Alishea Kingdom, Solo Nichols and Jas Kapule — sued because they had been receiving hormone therapy where they were held and also had gained access to some supplies, such as underwear and cosmetics, that would enable them to accommodate their genders. Kingdom is a transgender woman and was able to access feminine underwear and commissary items in addition to her hormone therapy medication, while Nichols and Kapule were able to have men's boxers and chest binders. The BOP stopped Kingdom's hormone therapy in February, causing her anxiety, hopelessness, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts, she told the court. But once she and the others filed the lawsuit, her hormone therapy was restored, Lamberth noted. Nichols similarly had his testosterone injections reduced in February, until the BOP reversed course and restored the full dosage by the end of that month, court filings say. Kapule never lost access to hormone therapy, according to the court records. The judge in the case decided the three inmates would suffer irreparable harm if he didn't step in with this ruling, according to his opinion. CNN has reached out to BOP for comment on the ruling.
CNN
7 days ago
- Health
- CNN
Judge blocks Trump from cutting off gender-affirming care for federal inmates
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to continue providing gender-affirming medication for transgender inmates in federal prisons, dealing the latest blow to a multi-pronged effort by the president to pull back federal support for transgender health care. 'All parties seem to agree that the named plaintiffs do, in fact, need hormone therapy,' US District Judge Royce Lamberth wrote. The preliminary injunction from Lamberth means that officials within the Bureau of Prisons cannot enforce guidance the agency's leadership issued earlier this year implementing President Donald Trump's order, which directed the agency to revise its policies to 'ensure that no Federal funds are expended for any medical procedure, treatment, or drug for the purpose of conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex.' Lamberth, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan, said a group of transgender inmates who had been medically diagnosed with gender dysphoria and who challenged BOP's guidance implementing the president's order were likely to succeed on their claim that the agency violated federal rulemaking procedures. They will continue to receive drugs as prescribed, the judge said. 'Nothing in the thin record before the Court suggests that either the BOP or the President consciously took stock of—much less studied—the potentially debilitating effects that the new policies could have on transgender inmates before the implementing memoranda came into force,' Lamberth wrote in the 36-page ruling. 'The BOP may not arbitrarily deprive inmates of medications or other lifestyle accommodations that its own medical staff have deemed to be medically appropriate without considering he implications of that decision.' Though the case was originally brought by three transgender inmates, Lamberth agreed to certify a class that consists of all federal inmates who are currently taking hormone therapy medication to treat their diagnosis of gender dysphoria, defined as the psychological distress an individual feels when their gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. Not every transgender individual has gender dysphoria. There are currently about 1,000 people in federal custody who are diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Lamberth noted that the BOP was continuing to give more than 600 inmates their prescribed hormone therapy medications, despite Trump's prior order. The Justice Department had tried to explain how the BOP was acting differently than the order said they should, Lamberth noted. A federal government lawyer at a recent hearing 'argued that the BOP's policy is to provide hormone therapy to inmates as necessary to address medical needs other than 'conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex,' such as to ameliorate anxiety, depression, or suicidality associated with gender dysphoria. Therefore, they argue, the BOP has the authority to provide not just some relief, but the very relief that the plaintiffs sought in their Complaint—to wit, restoration of their hormone therapy.' The case so far has highlighted the changing reality transgender inmates in federal prisons have faced since Trump took office in January. Three different inmates — Alishea Kingdom, Solo Nichols and Jas Kapule — sued because they had been receiving hormone therapy where they were held and also had gained access to some supplies, such as underwear and cosmetics, that would enable them to accommodate their genders. Kingdom is a transgender woman and was able to access feminine underwear and commissary items in addition to her hormone therapy medication, while Nichols and Kapule were able to have men's boxers and chest binders. The BOP stopped Kingdom's hormone therapy in February, causing her anxiety, hopelessness, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts, she told the court. But once she and the others filed the lawsuit, her hormone therapy was restored, Lamberth noted. Nichols similarly had his testosterone injections reduced in February, until the BOP reversed course and restored the full dosage by the end of that month, court filings say. Kapule never lost access to hormone therapy, according to the court records. The judge in the case decided the three inmates would suffer irreparable harm if he didn't step in with this ruling, according to his opinion. CNN has reached out to BOP for comment on the ruling.
