Supreme Court blocks Trump prison care restrictions

The Supreme Court on October 21 denied the Trump administration’s emergency request to enforce restrictions on gender-affirming care for federal inmates, leaving a lower-court injunction in place while the lawsuit proceeds. The court gave no explanation in its brief order. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito said they would have granted the administration’s request. The decision does not resolve whether the Bureau of Prisons policy is lawful. The policy would bar surgeries and social accommodations, including items such as wigs and makeup, for inmates diagnosed with gender dysphoria. It would also end hormone therapy, including through tapering treatment for inmates already receiving it. The lower-court injunction requires the Bureau of Prisons to continue providing care and accommodations while the case is litigated. The policy followed President Donald Trump’s executive order directing federal agencies to restrict medical procedures, treatments or drugs intended to make an inmate’s appearance conform to a gender identity that differs from sex assigned at birth. The Bureau of Prisons said its revised approach reflected its view of medical information as well as security...