Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Order on Transgender Inmate Transfers

A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at transferring transgender female inmates to male federal prisons, citing concerns for their safety and medical needs. The order, issued on January 20, mandated that federal facilities recognize only two sexes based on biological sex assigned at birth, which critics argue endangers transgender inmates. On February 24, U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth extended a restraining order, acknowledging the potential for cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The judge highlighted that transgender women face severe risks of violence and abuse in male facilities, and the government failed to justify the policy's implementation. Concurrently, a separate ruling from a Seattle judge has paused Trump's efforts to cut federal funding for hospitals providing gender-affirming care to minors, stating the executive order likely won't withstand constitutional scrutiny. Both cases reflect ongoing legal battles over the rights and protections of transgender individuals under the current administration's policies.