Federal Bureau of Prisons refuses to reverse restrictive trans policies

The Federal Bureau of Prisons rejected requests from Democratic senators to roll back policies affecting incarcerated transgender people that followed a Trump executive order. The senators urged withdrawal of guidance they said removes dignity and medically necessary gender-affirming care and may conflict with federal court injunctions in ongoing lawsuits. The Bureau defended its changes as based on best medical practices and said it uses individualized assessments and treatments rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The Bureau also stated there are no plans to reconsider the policy absent a court order. The Bureau did not identify specific medical experts or studies supporting its position, despite major U.S. medical associations endorsing gender-affirming care as safe and effective. The senators said the February 2026 policy blocks care even if inmates pay privately, requires some inmates to taper off hormones, and replaces gender-affirming treatment with psychotherapy.

"The Federal Bureau of Prisons has rejected calls from Democratic senators to roll back a series of policies impacting incarcerated transgender people that resulted from a Trump executive order earlier this year, including restrictions on gender-affirming care and directives requiring staff to use names and pronouns tied to inmates' sex assigned at birth."

"In an 11 May letter sent to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and BOP Director William K. Marshall III, Senators Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, and Mazie Hirono urged the agency to withdraw policies they said endanger transgender inmates and strip them of dignity and medically necessary care. The senators also warned that some of the new guidance may violate existing federal court injunctions tied to ongoing lawsuits challenging the policies."

"Murphy went on to criticise Biden-era policies, saying: "Unlike the prior administration's one-size-fits-all approach, the BOP's new policy ensures individualised assessments and treatments. And while the previous administration's policies on treating inmates with gender dysphoria was driven by radical ideology, the BOP's current policy is based on medical studies, medical expert opinions, state correctional policies, caselaw, and penological concerns. Absent court order, there are no plans to reconsider or revisit the policy.""

"However, the bureau did not specify which medical experts or studies support its position, despite every major US medical association endorsing gender-affirming care as safe and effective for transgender people. According to the senators, the February 2026 policy blocks gender-affirming care even when inmates are willing to pay privately, requires some trans inmates to gradually stop hormone therapy, and replaces gender-affirming treatment with psychothe"

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