Transgender Inmates Alarmed as Trump Mandates Transfer to Prisons Based on Biological Sex

Hundreds of transgender federal inmates are facing fear and uncertainty following an executive order by President Donald Trump mandating their transfer to prisons aligned with their biological sex rather than gender identity. Legal advocates have raised concerns about the potential dangers transgender individuals may face in male facilities. Attorney Moira Meltzer-Cohen, representing transgender inmate Donna Langan, warned of possible violence, describing the policy as “incredibly dangerous” and fearing a “bloodbath.” The order, signed on Trump’s first day in office, also restricts access to gender-affirming spaces like bathrooms and dormitories, limits federal funding for transition-related healthcare, and legally recognizes only two sexes. Sandra Gant, a federal public defender, revealed that one of her transgender clients is “terrified” after being segregated for transfer to a male prison. She emphasized the need for legal strategies to challenge the policy. Meanwhile, Rhonda Fleming, a female inmate in Texas, welcomed the decision, arguing that some male prisoners falsely claim transgender identities to serve sentences in women’s facilities, creating safety concerns for other inmates. The Bureau of Prisons, overseeing approximately 1,500 transgender women and 750 transgender men, is yet to determine placement policies for inmates who have undergone gender-affirming surgeries, citing additional security risks. The executive order, part of Trump’s broader rollback of protections for transgender individuals, is expected to face legal challenges from advocacy groups like the ACLU.