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U.S. Supreme Court blocks Trump administration's restriction on transgender inmate medical care
The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an emergency request from the Trump administration to immediately enforce a policy that would restrict gender-affirming medical care for transgender inmates in federal prisons. In a brief, unsigned order, the Court denied the administration's application in the case 'Trump v. Kingdom', leaving in place a lower-court injunction that prevents the Bureau of Prisons from halting these services while litigation continues.
The disputed policy, prompted by an executive order signed by President Trump on his first day in office, aims to prevent federal funds from being used for medical procedures or social accommodations intended to conform an inmate’s appearance to the opposite sex. The restrictions would have prohibited hormone therapy, gender-transition surgeries, and social accommodations such as the use of makeup, wigs, or specific clothing.
The administration argued that the policy is necessary for prison security and that such treatments are not medically essential. However, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth previously blocked the restrictions, noting that the Bureau of Prisons appeared to have 'reverse engineered' the policy to comply with the executive order without sufficient medical evidence.
The legal challenge is a class-action lawsuit brought by three transgender inmates, supported by the ACLU and the Transgender Law Center, representing approximately 1,000 individuals in federal custody. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the majority decision.
Entities
Alishea Kingdom · American Civil Liberties Union · Bureau of Prisons · Clarence Thomas · Donald Trump · Federal Bureau of Prisons · Royce Lamberth · Supreme Court of the United States · U.S. Supreme Court
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The proposed restrictions include halting surgeries, tapering hormones, and ending social accommodations like makeup and wigs. 6abc.com · abc13.com · abc7.com · abc7chicago.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Approximately 600 inmates were receiving hormone therapy in 2025. 6abc.com · abc13.com · abc7.com · abc7chicago.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ordered that medical treatments continue. 6abc.com · abc13.com · abc7.com · abc7chicago.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Supreme Court refused to allow the immediate enforcement of new medical restrictions for transgender inmates. 6abc.com · abc13.com · abc7.com · abc7chicago.com
- [● 14 SOURCES] The policy aims to prevent federal funds from being used to conform an inmate’s appearance to the opposite sex. 6abc.com · abc13.com · abc7.com · abc7chicago.com · heartlandernews.com · +9 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] The Trump administration argued that these medical treatments raise security concerns. 6abc.com · abc13.com · abc7.com · abc7chicago.com · trendingpoliticsnews.com · +5 more
- [● 30 SOURCES] Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the Supreme Court's decision. heartlandernews.com · newsfactsnetwork.com · thelibertydaily.com · trendingpoliticsnews.com · www.devdiscourse.com · +25 more
- [DISPUTED] As of February 2025, more than 2,000 inmates in the federal prison system identified as transgender. heartlandernews.com · sjvsun.com · newsfactsnetwork.com · eldiariony.com · www.worthynews.com · +3 more
- [● 26 SOURCES] The policy would prohibit hormone therapy, surgeries, and social accommodations like makeup and wigs for transgender inmates. heartlandernews.com · newsfactsnetwork.com · trendingpoliticsnews.com · www.devdiscourse.com · localnews8.com · +21 more
- [● 20 SOURCES] The Supreme Court's order did not explain its reasoning. heartlandernews.com · newsfactsnetwork.com · trendingpoliticsnews.com · www.devdiscourse.com · localnews8.com · +15 more
- [● 30 SOURCES] The Supreme Court denied the Trump administration's emergency request to enforce restrictions on transgender inmate medical care. heartlandernews.com · newsfactsnetwork.com · thelibertydaily.com · trendingpoliticsnews.com · www.devdiscourse.com · +25 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth blocked the restrictions in June. newsfactsnetwork.com · trendingpoliticsnews.com · wsvn.com · www.bangordailynews.com · thefederalist.com · +4 more