President Trump’s Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Gender Reassignment Surgeries in Prisons

When the news emerged, President Trump quickly aligned with it. Media discussions quickly homed in on a pressing question: What does this mean for transgender inmates?

Having spent five years at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, I couldn’t shake the feeling that many voices—particularly those of women—were being overlooked. These women are trapped in confinement, facing intrusions to their privacy from male inmates.

Women in prison should have the right to heal without being caught in ideological battles.

After serving my time, I transitioned back to civilian life and established a nonprofit aimed at helping women rebuild their lives post-incarceration. Not long after my release, I received distressing calls from women still behind bars, alerting me to the alarming trend of men being transferred to women’s facilities.

Initially, I found it hard to believe. It seems unreasonable—perhaps even cruel—to label placing men in women’s prisons as a “compassionate” decision. Such a view only makes sense if you ignore the realities of prison life, or if you’re pushing a troubling ideology that disregards all consequences.

Some of these individuals assert they are women, likely believing that women’s prisons provide a safer environment than men’s. In some cases, they may not even identify strictly as female but as “non-binary,” and still receive equivalent recognition. Alarmingly, not all of these men have benign criminal histories—some are rapists or child abusers, and many have committed horrific acts.

For years, the Bureau of Prisons has moved forward with policies regarding transgender healthcare with little acknowledgment of the ramifications for incarcerated women. Those of us with firsthand experience know the impact of broad ideological policies on environments that should prioritize safety, privacy, and survival.

In this increasingly popular approach, it seems that the needs and feelings of men are prioritized over the safety and dignity of women who are forced to coexist with them.

Prisons have never been a place where a “one-size-fits-all” approach can work. Each choice made in such facilities directly affects individuals incredibly closely. Decisions regarding housing, medical care, and institutional adjustments cannot simply be dictated by slogans or pressure from groups outside the facility. The safety and welfare of everyone in those spaces must come first.

For anyone who has spent time within those walls, the everyday realities are clear. Inmates cannot leave their cells freely, cannot secure their doors, or select their cellmates. They take their showers under supervision, change in communal areas, and sleep just feet away from strangers, many of whom have histories of violence and trauma, including domestic abuse and sexual assault.

What about the compassion that should be extended to these women as they seek rehabilitation while also confronting their past traumas?

The system has consistently conveyed that their trauma is inconsequential, their fears trivial, and their privacy non-existent. Instead, they are compelled to center the identity claims of some men. It’s a troubling dynamic; once the boundaries are pushed, activists generally do not stop. This has particularly dire consequences for women housed next to men who have a history of violent behavior against women and children.

Trump’s executive order eliminating taxpayer-funded gender surgeries in federal prisons indicates a shift away from viewing prisons as arenas for social experimentation. It sends a message that prioritizes the safety of women, ensuring they will no longer witness men receive special treatments designed to cater to a perceived feminine identity while they themselves suffer loss of basic privacy and dignity.

Ultimately, all incarcerated individuals deserve humane treatment, which encompasses access to healthcare and mental health support, as well as dignity. However, dignity must not come at the expense of denying reality.

If you’ve experienced incarceration, you know how easily the outside world can drift away. These policies profoundly affect the daily lives of thousands of women. Their chances for rehabilitation diminish when they’re made to live in fear, be re-traumatized, and face unnecessary threats. Women in prison deserve the ability to heal without being caught up in ideological conflicts.