Trump Signs Executive Order Banning Transgender Women from Female Prisons
On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump issued a sweeping executive order requiring that federal prisons house inmates based on their sex assigned at birth, effectively barring transgender women from female correctional facilities.
Additionally, the order prohibits federal funding for gender-transition-related medical treatments for incarcerated individuals.
This directive, one of Trump’s most immediate actions, extends beyond prisons to immigration detention centers.
His administration states that the policy is intended to “protect women’s spaces,” a stance he previously supported during his first term.
However, this decision has sparked intense debate, with critics arguing that it undermines the rights and safety of transgender individuals.
The new policy directly impacts nearly 2,300 transgender inmates currently in federal custody—roughly 1.5% of the total prison population.
It follows Trump’s broader campaign promises to limit transgender participation in women’s sports and restrict access to gender-affirming care.
During a speech in Phoenix, Arizona, Trump declared, “With the stroke of my pen on day one, we are going to stop the transgender lunacy.”
He reaffirmed his administration’s position that “there are only two genders, male and female,” vowing to remove transgender topics from public school curricula and reinstate restrictions on transgender military service.
His policies on gender identity remain highly divisive, with supporters praising them as a defense of fairness and tradition, while opponents argue they marginalize an already vulnerable group.
As legal challenges loom, the long-term impact of these orders is yet to be seen.
