Supreme Court Keeps Block on Prison Care Restrictions

The Supreme Court on October 21 rejected the Trump administration’s emergency request to enforce restrictions on gender-affirming care for transgender people in federal prisons, leaving a lower-court injunction in place while litigation continues. The unsigned order gave no explanation. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito said they would have granted the administration’s request. The decision addresses only whether the restrictions may take effect during the case; it does not resolve whether the policy is lawful. The Bureau of Prisons’ revised policy would restrict surgeries and hormone treatment for inmates with gender dysphoria and end some social accommodations, including clothing and personal items consistent with their gender identity. The administration’s filings say mental health services would remain available. With the injunction still in force, the policy cannot currently be applied to the covered inmates. The case was brought by transgender inmates challenging the policy. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth blocked it in June, finding that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in arguing that the Bureau had not adequately justified its change. A divided panel...