Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Transfer of Transgender Woman to Men's Prison

The ruling halts enforcement of a Trump executive order limiting transgender accommodations in federal prisons.

A Massachusetts federal judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the transfer of Maria Moe, a transgender woman in federal custody, from a women’s prison to a men’s facility.
The ruling challenges a recent executive order signed by President Trump, which mandates federal agencies recognize only two biological sexes and prohibits housing transgender women in women’s prisons.
Moe’s lawyers argue that the transfer would endanger her safety and violate constitutional protections, including the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.
The executive order also seeks to eliminate federal funding for gender-affirming medical care for incarcerated individuals, which Moe's legal team says is vital to her health and well-being.
Advocacy groups warn that the order undermines established safety protocols, such as the Prison Rape Elimination Act, and could increase risks of violence and harm for transgender inmates.