Federal Judge Rules Prisons Must Provide Gender-Affirming Care, Blocking Trump’s Controversial Order

In a landmark decision on June 3, 2025, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth struck down former President Donald Trump’s executive order that denied gender-affirming medical care to transgender inmates in federal prisons. The ruling is a major victory for transgender rights advocates and directly impacts over 600 incarcerated individuals who rely on treatments like hormone therapy and social accommodations to align with their gender identity.

Trump’s January 2025 executive order sought to restrict federal recognition of gender to only male and female, effectively cutting off funding for gender-affirming care in federal prisons. The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) was also instructed to transfer transgender women—those assigned male at birth—out of women’s facilities and into men’s prisons. Advocates argued this policy not only violated inmates’ rights but also endangered their mental and physical well-being.

Judge Lamberth’s ruling dismantled these restrictions, emphasizing that the Trump administration provided no valid justification for denying medically necessary care. The judge stated that there was no serious explanation for withholding treatment that medical professionals widely recognize as essential. Studies show that denying gender-affirming care can lead to severe mental health consequences, including depression and suicidal ideation—a reality that weighed heavily in the court’s decision.

With 2,198 transgender inmates currently in federal custody, this ruling has far-reaching implications. For many, access to hormone therapy or proper housing isn’t just about comfort—it’s a matter of survival. Advocates have long highlighted the heightened risks transgender individuals face in prisons, including violence and discrimination.

The decision also sets a precedent amid a broader wave of anti-trans policies. Since retaking office, Trump has aggressively targeted transgender rights, from banning transition-related surgeries for minors to purging transgender troops from the military. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently ordered all active-duty service members with gender dysphoria to leave by June 6, 2025, affecting thousands.

While this ruling is a significant legal setback for the Trump administration, the fight is far from over. The Justice Department or BOP could appeal, prolonging the legal battle. Meanwhile, 26 states have already passed laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors, signaling that the national debate over transgender rights is far from settled.

For now, though, this decision offers hope to incarcerated transgender individuals who have fought for basic dignity. As one advocate put it, this isn’t about politics—it’s about recognizing humanity. With courts increasingly siding with medical consensus over ideology, the tide may slowly be turning in favor of transgender rights.

Stay tuned as this legal battle unfolds, shaping the future of healthcare and civil rights in America’s prisons.