HUD directs agency to prohibit trans males from federally funded women-only shelters
New Article:
Eric Turner, the newly appointed Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), wasted no time in making a significant impact on his first day in office. Turner made a bold move by directing agency staff to suspend all pending and future enforcement actions related to the Obama-era Equal Access Rule, which required HUD-funded programs and shelters to determine eligibility based on a person’s self-identified gender.
In a press conference, Turner stated that this decision was in line with President Donald Trump’s agenda to “restore biological truth to the federal government.” He emphasized the need to protect women entering HUD facilities and ensure that their rights are upheld without compromising their safety. Turner expressed his commitment to restoring equal rights while avoiding the granting of extra privileges.
This directive from Turner follows Trump’s executive order on Day One, which terminated federal diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and mandated the recognition of only two genders, male and female. Additionally, Trump signed an executive order prohibiting biological males who identify as females from competing on women’s sports teams and another order preventing minors from receiving puberty blockers or transition surgery.
The 2016 Equal Access Rule, which Turner rescinded, had prohibited homeless shelters and other HUD-assisted housing programs from requiring individuals to prove their biological gender. With this directive, shelters will no longer be bound by this restriction.
Recent incidents have highlighted the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals in federally funded shelters. In 2018, a group of California women filed a lawsuit against a women’s shelter in Fresno, alleging that they were forced to share facilities with a biological male who identified as a woman and harassed them. Similarly, in Greenville, South Carolina, a transgender woman was arrested for stabbing a shelter employee after gaining access to a women’s shelter meant for females.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication. Turner’s actions as HUD Secretary signal a shift in policies related to gender identity and access to federally funded shelters, reflecting the administration’s commitment to prioritizing safety and upholding biological distinctions.
