Trump’s Executive Order Forces Transgender Inmates into Men’s Prisons, Sparking Legal and Safety Concerns

Donald Trump’s executive order mandating transgender inmates serve time in prisons matching their birth sex has sparked widespread fear and controversy.

Transgender inmates, attorneys, and advocates argue the policy endangers lives by forcing vulnerable individuals into hostile environments.

“It’s going to be incredibly dangerous,” said attorney Moira Meltzer-Cohen, who represents Donna Langan, a transgender woman serving a life sentence for bank robbery. Meltzer-Cohen fears a “bloodbath” if inmates like Langan, who underwent a sex change in federal prison, are moved to male facilities.

The Bureau of Prisons has begun segregating transgender inmates, creating uncertainty about their future placements. Sandra Gant, a federal public defender, revealed that a transgender client in Minnesota was “terrified” after being informed of her imminent transfer to a men’s prison. “She is terrified,” Gant wrote, seeking advice for legal action.

Trump’s order asserts there are only two immutable sexes and bans federal funding for transition-related healthcare. Advocates warn this rollback of Obama-era protections will increase violence and discrimination against transgender people.

Meanwhile, some inmates like Rhonda Fleming support the policy. Fleming, who previously sued to remove transgender women from her facility, argued that biological women fear attack and stress over shared spaces.

While conservative groups cheer the move, civil rights organizations like the ACLU vow to challenge it.

“This is a human rights crisis,” Meltzer-Cohen added. Legal battles are expected as Congress and the courts weigh the policy’s implications.