Trans inmate sues Trump admin over ‘two-sexes’ order halting money for gender therapy
A transgender inmate, referred to as Maria Moe in court documents, is taking legal action against the Trump administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) over President Donald Trump’s executive order that bans taxpayer-funded medical treatments for transgender prisoners. The executive order, titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” prohibits federal funds from being used for any medical procedures, treatments, or drugs aimed at altering an inmate’s appearance to that of the opposite sex. It also asserts that there are only two sexes.
Maria Moe, who has been receiving medical hormones since adolescence and has not been housed in a men’s facility since their conviction, was transferred to a men’s prison facility after Trump signed the executive order. BOP records were also changed to reflect Maria’s sex as male. This sudden transfer and denial of medical treatment has prompted Maria to file a lawsuit against Trump and the BOP, claiming that the executive order will result in transgender women in federal prisons being transferred to men’s facilities and denied necessary healthcare.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, argues that if Maria is moved to a men’s facility, she will be at risk of harassment, abuse, violence, and sexual assault. The complaint highlights concerns such as strip searches by male correctional officers, showering in full view of male inmates, and worsening gender dysphoria. Maria contends that Trump and the BOP are violating the Fifth and Eighth Amendments by endangering her access to vital medical care.
Prior to Trump’s directive, the BOP had initiated funding for transgender surgical procedures for federal prisoners in December 2022. Donna Langan, formerly known as Peter Kevin Langan, became the first federal inmate to undergo gender transition surgery at taxpayer expense. Langan, convicted in 1997 for involvement in armed bank robberies, was a member of the Aryan Republican Army. The BOP’s decision to support Langan’s transition followed advocacy efforts and legal actions, including a settlement in 2021 that mandated gender transition surgery for another transgender inmate.
The legal battle over access to gender transition treatments for incarcerated individuals has been ongoing, with cases like Autumn Cordellioné in Indiana and Reiyn Keohane in Florida challenging prison policies. The Biden administration also took action against Utah’s Department of Corrections for impeding gender dysphoria treatment for inmates. These cases underscore the importance of ensuring that all individuals, including those in prison, have access to necessary medical care.
Fox News Digital reached out to Maria Moe’s legal team, the White House, and the BOP for comments on the lawsuit. Jamie Joseph, a writer covering politics, leads Fox News Digital’s Senate coverage.
