The Supreme Court on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from denying some gender-transition medical treatments for transgender inmates at federal prisons.
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The unsigned order from the court comes after the Bureau of Prisons adopted new policies that would have prohibited transgender inmates from receiving the care.
Three individuals in federal custody initially challenged the new rules. They were diagnosed previously with gender dysphoria by prison officials and have been prescribed certain treatments, The New York Times reported.
The ruling from the justices means that as it stands, federal prisoners that have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria will continue to receive gender transition treatments.
The conservative majority on the court makes this a unique instance in which the justices have sided with the transgender community, but the Times noted that Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas said they would have granted the administration’s request to block the treatments.
The lawsuit in this case stems from a challenge that argues the Trump administration has violated the Eighth Amendment, which has protections against cruel and unusual punishment.
The ruling from the court is a temporary block in the administration’s attempt to end the services for inmates, meaning that the block is in place while the Justice Department’s litigation continues.
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It stems from a 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump that bans prison officials from using federal money on treatments, procedures or medications to address gender dysphoria.
Gender dysphoria is a clinical term for the emotional distress a person feels when their internal gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth.
The ruling comes months after the Supreme Court upheld state laws that prevented transgender female athletes from playing on girls and women’s sports teams. In 2025, the court upheld a state law that prohibited treatments for gender-related care.
Treatments included in Wednesday’s case include hormone therapy, surgery, and social accommodations like makeup and wigs. If the government is able to proceed in implementing the policy, some inmates would have to taper off of hormone medication and makeup would be confiscated, the Times reported.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer said they were challenging the suit and brought the case to the justices because the administration believed it was necessary to maintain “institutional security.” The American Civil Liberties Union has challenged the administration and said they haven’t provided reasoning for how this case pertains to security.
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