Two transgender women incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Aliceville in Alabama have become the focus of a escalating legal and political dispute after former President Donald Trump issued an executive order prohibiting transgender women from being housed in women’s prisons, as reported by The Marshall Project, a non-profit organization.
On January 20, an order was signed titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” This order mandates the transfer of transgender women to men’s prisons and discontinues federal funding for gender-affirming medical care for incarcerated individuals.
Two transgender women at FCI Aliceville and one in Texas took legal action against the officials responsible for implementing the order, claiming that it discriminated against them and infringed upon their constitutional rights. Despite the uncertainty, their lawsuit resulted in a temporary win when U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth issued a ruling that prevented the enforcement of crucial parts of the order, thereby blocking their relocation.
Instead of impeding the progress of transferring transgender inmates, the lawsuit actually expedited government action. The Department of Justice (DOJ) swiftly responded to Judge Lamberth’s ruling by instructing the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to immediately start relocating all transgender women to men’s prisons, with the exception of the three plaintiffs who were specifically protected by the court’s decision. This internal communication within the DOJ revealed a proactive approach taken by the Trump-appointed official.
When contacted by TMP, FCI Aliceville, the sole federal women’s prison in Alabama, declined to comment on the specific cases. However, prison officials did mention that they would “support and comply with all executive orders issued by the President of the United States.”