US Supreme Court reverses Trump administration push to restrict treatment for transgender inmates

The US Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's emergency request to enforce a policy restricting gender-affirming care for transgender inmates in federal prisons. The court denied the Justice Department's bid to lift a federal judge's order blocking the Federal Bureau of Prisons from implementing the policy while a legal challenge proceeds. The policy, issued in February, prohibits medical and surgical treatments as well as social accommodations like clothing and hair-removal devices that align with an inmate's gender identity, but would still allow psychiatric services. Three transgender inmates incarcerated in New Jersey, Florida, and Minnesota filed a class action lawsuit challenging the policy. The Supreme Court's brief order gave no explanation, with conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito publicly dissenting. The ACLU, representing the plaintiffs, called the ruling a prevention of serious and irreparable harm. The Bureau of Prisons declined to comment. Over 2,000 transgender inmates are in federal facilities and halfway houses, according to a 2025 government figure. The policy would reverse prior procedures; the federal prison system has treated gender dysphoria with hormones since at least 1992. The Trump administration has taken a hard line on transgender rights since returning to office in January 2025, including an executive order recognizing only two genders. The Supreme Court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, has ruled against transgender rights in key cases since last year.