The Trump administration no longer will financially cover cosmetic surgeries and cross-sex hormones for transgender federal prison inmates.
In a move projected to save taxpayers nearly $2 million, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) issued new guidance Feb. 19 ending federal funding for gender-transition surgeries and hormone treatments for inmates who identify as transgender, the Washington Examiner reported Tuesday.
The policy reverses Biden-era directives that required wardens to provide and pay for hormone therapy and certain surgical procedures.
According to Justice Department figures shared with the Examiner, the prior policy cost the BOP approximately $1.65 million.
Of that total, roughly $1.25 million went toward hormone-replacement therapy, including estrogen injections and testosterone suppressants for inmates housed in prisons, halfway houses, or on home confinement.
Two surgeries performed under the previous rules cost about $400,000 combined.
