Judge Halts Transfer of Trans Women to Male Prisons

Court Decision Prevents Trump’s Jail Transfer Order

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s directive to transfer transgender women from female to male prison facilities. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth issued an injunction preventing the relocation of 16 transgender women currently housed in federal women’s prisons. This decision expands upon a prior ruling from January 26, 2025, where a federal judge in Boston halted the transfer of an individual transgender woman to a men’s facility.

The Trump administration’s policy, based on an executive order defining gender strictly by birth-assigned sex, has faced significant legal challenges. Critics argue that transferring transgender women to male prisons increases their risk of violence and sexual assault. Legal advocacy groups have filed lawsuits on behalf of affected inmates, leading to these judicial interventions.

In addition to blocking the transfers, Judge Lamberth’s order prohibits the Bureau of Prisons from denying transgender inmates access to hormone therapy and other gender-affirming medical care. This move aims to ensure the safety and well-being of transgender individuals within the federal prison system