The Justice Department asked the Supreme Court on Monday to save a ban on transgender medical treatments in federal prisons. They want the high court to block a lower judge’s ruling. This move would let the government enforce its new prison policy immediately.
The policy stops payment for hormone treatments and social accommodations. It applies to inmates with gender dysphoria. The Bureau of Prisons issued this new rule in February.
It prohibits surgeries that modify sex traits. It also stops hormone therapy for inmates not already on it. The rule bans social aids like chest binders or padding.
These items must align with biological sex. A group of federal inmates sued the administration over this. They argued the ban violates their rights.
In June, Judge Royce Lamberth sided with the inmates. He ordered the Bureau of Prisons to keep providing care. Judge Lamberth said officials did not explain why this treatment should differ.
He noted the Bureau ignored its own past experience. That experience followed guidelines from WPATH. WPATH is the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
The Justice Department disagrees with this view. Solicitor General D. John Sauer filed the petition to the Supreme Court.
He called the WPATH guidelines scientifically flawed. He said they are biased and unreliable. The Department argues the Bureau prioritizes mental health treatment.
It discontinues interventions that are medically disputed. Sauer said this falls within reasoned decision-making. The case also touches on prison security.
The DOJ argues courts must defer to prison administrators. They have wide-ranging authority to maintain order. This principle is known as double deference.
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals recently declined to revive the ban. This kept the lower court’s order in place temporarily. Now the issue rests with the Supreme Court.
The stakes include federal healthcare spending and the daily safety and management of prisons. The Justice Department claims the lower court demanded too much evidence. They say this conflicts with administrative law.
The Bureau of Prisons wants to control its own rules. They believe this is necessary for institutional security. The Supreme Court must now decide who is right.
The decision will shape healthcare for thousands of inmates. It will also set a precedent for federal agencies. The outcome depends on how much power judges hold over prison policy.
The legal battle highlights a clash between medical guidelines and government rules. The Department insists its policy is sound. The inmates insist their care is essential.
The Supreme Court will weigh these competing claims. The final ruling will clarify the limits of prison authority.