The Justice Department asked the Supreme Court on Monday to let a federal prison rule stand. This rule stops payment for hormone treatments and surgeries for inmates. The department wants the high court to block a lower judge’s order. That order stopped the government from enforcing its new policy right away. The government argues the ban is needed for prison safety. Fox News reported the filing came down on Monday. The move seeks to restore a policy the Bureau of Prisons issued in February.
That February policy ended surgeries meant to change sex traits. It also stopped hormone treatments for inmates not already on them. The rule blocks social items like padding or wigs that do not match an inmate’s birth sex. The Trump administration says these changes are based on security needs. The Washington Examiner noted the department filed an emergency petition. They want the court to act before the next court date.
U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote the request to the justices. He said the Bureau of Prisons made a smart choice. Sauer stated the decision to prioritize mental health while stopping disputed treatments is sound. He called the new rules “medically disputed and unproven sex-rejecting interventions.” Sauer argued the lower court did not look at the facts properly. He wrote that the court blocked the policy without “meaningfully engaging” with the record.
Sauer claimed the lower judge made a big mistake. He said the judge “radically” departed “from the significant deference that BOP is due.” The government says prison rules are based on “the latest scientific information.” They further reference security and prison-administration concerns that surpass any limited benefits they possessed. The Washington Times reported that President Trump asked the court to approve the refusal to pay. The administration says the ban helps maintain order in federal prisons.
A group of federal inmates sued the administration earlier this year. They challenged an executive order from the start of the second term. That order banned federal funds for these medical treatments. In June, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled against the government. Judge Lamberth is a Ronald Reagan appointee. He ordered the Bureau of Prisons to keep providing care and accommodations.
The lower court found the Bureau did not look at its own past experience. They said the agency ignored care aligned with the World Professional guidelines. According to reports, the government and the public suffer irreparable harm from the court’s order. He argued that the policy falls “well within the bounds of reasoned decision-making.” The government wants to enforce the ban while the lawsuit continues. The Washington Examiner noted Sauer stressed the need for officials to make these treatment decisions.
The Supreme Court now holds the fate of this policy. The justices must decide if the lower court should be blocked. If they agree, the ban on surgeries and hormones takes effect again. The government says this is vital for institutional security.
