Supreme Court Keeps Block on Trump Admin’s Transgender Prisoner Healthcare Policy
The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to intervene in a legal fight over healthcare for transgender prisoners, leaving in place a lower court ruling that blocks the Federal Bureau of Prisons from enforcing a new policy that limits hormone therapy and social accommodations.
In a brief, unsigned order, the justices turned down the Trump administration’s request to pause the lower court decision. Only Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas indicated they would have allowed the new policy to take effect while the case proceeds.
The Bureau of Prisons introduced the policy in February, aligning with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day back in office, which directed the government to stop paying for gender transition procedures. The agency argued that its previous guidelines relied on medical standards that prison officials found unreliable, and raised concerns about safety, fairness, and inmate conflict.
Three transgender inmates quickly sued, leading to a class-action lawsuit. A federal district judge blocked the policy in August, and an appeals court panel later declined to freeze that ruling while the case moves forward.
The administration asked the Supreme Court to step in, arguing that the lower court overstepped by second-guessing prison officials and ignoring the deference they are due in running correctional facilities. However, the inmates countered that suddenly stopping their treatment would cause severe, lasting harm, including intense psychological distress, self-harm risks, and deepening gender dysphoria. They also argued the agency failed to provide a proper legal explanation for its sudden policy shift.
With the Supreme Court’s rejection of the administration’s request, the lower court block remains active, preserving the existing healthcare access for these inmates during the ongoing legal battle.
