A transgender inmate, receiving taxpayer-funded medical treatments, has initiated a groundbreaking lawsuit against the Trump administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The suit challenges President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that halts medical transgender treatments for federal prisoners.

Trump’s executive order, titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” prohibits federal funds from being utilized for any medical procedure aimed at altering an inmate’s appearance to conform to the opposite sex. Moreover, the order asserts the binary existence of only “two sexes.”

Case Background: Maria Moe’s Experience

The transgender inmate, referred to as “Maria Moe” in court documents, is being represented by the GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Lowenstein Sandler LLP. Moe, who has been undergoing medical hormone treatments since adolescence, has never been housed in a men’s facility since her conviction.

Following the enactment of Trump’s executive order, Moe was transferred to a men’s prison facility, with BOP records changing her designation from “female” to “male,” according to the filed complaint. This shift raises significant concerns regarding the safety and well-being of transgender inmates.

Legal Claims and Concerns

The lawsuit, which has garnered attention from various media outlets, asserts that the executive order will lead to unlawful transfers of transgender women to men’s facilities and deny them essential medical care. It cites immediate threats to the safety and welfare of those affected.

“If Maria Moe is transferred to a men’s facility, she will not be safe,” the complaint states. “She will be at an extremely high risk of harassment, abuse, violence, and sexual assault.” The lawsuit further details the potential scenarios Moe could face, including inappropriate searches by male officers and exposure during showers, which could exacerbate her gender dysphoria.

Constitutional Implications

Moe’s legal team argues that her transfer and the denial of medical care violate both the Fifth and Eighth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. They contend that she faces an imminent risk of losing vital medical care necessary for treating her gender dysphoria, accentuating the plight of transgender inmates within the prison system.

Previous Trends in BOP Policy

Prior to Trump’s reversal of the BOP’s gender dysphoria policies, the agency had begun funding transgender surgical procedures in December 2022. Notably, Donna Langan, formerly known as Peter Kevin Langan, became the first federal prisoner to undergo such a transition using taxpayer dollars. Langan, who was convicted in 1997 for a series of armed bank robberies, was affiliated with the Aryan Republican Army, highlighting the complexities surrounding gender identity issues in the federal prison system.

Langan’s transition followed a lengthy process of legal advocacy, culminating in a landmark settlement in 2021 where the BOP agreed to cover gender transition surgeries for inmates. This ruling was born out of the case involving Cristina Nichole Iglesias, a transgender woman convicted in 1994 for making threats against British officials.

A Wider Legal Landscape

The lawsuit filed by Maria Moe is not an isolated incident; it reflects a growing trend of legal challenges regarding the rights of transgender inmates. Over the past year, multiple lawsuits have emerged concerning the denial of gender transition treatments across various states. For instance, Autumn Cordellioné, a transgender woman serving a lengthy sentence for murder in Indiana, has taken legal action against the state for refusing her necessary surgical treatment.

Furthermore, in April 2024, the Biden administration’s Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Utah’s Department of Corrections, accusing it of creating unnecessary barriers to gender dysphoria treatment for inmates. Similarly, Reiyn Keohane, a transgender woman incarcerated in Florida, filed suit against her state’s Department of Corrections, claiming violations of her Eighth Amendment rights due to a discontinuation of hormone therapy and removal of access to female clothing.

Future Implications and Ongoing Developments

The outcome of Moe’s lawsuit has the potential to influence not only her immediate circumstances but also the broader treatment and rights of transgender individuals within the prison system. As public awareness and advocacy for transgender rights continue to surge, the legal challenges presented by inmates like Moe may pave the way for significant reforms in prison healthcare and treatment policies.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Maria Moe’s attorneys, the White House, and the BOP for further comments on the ongoing situation.