The Trump administration has introduced a new policy that removes coverage for gender-affirming care from federal health insurance plans, effective January 1, 2026. This policy affects federal employees and US Postal Service workers, and has been met with backlash from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and other advocacy groups. The HRC has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), arguing that the policy amounts to sex-based discrimination and is intended to push transgender people and their families out of the federal workforce.
The policy eliminates coverage for “chemical and surgical modification of an individual’s sex traits,” which is a key aspect of gender-affirming care. The HRC’s president, Kelley Robinson, has stated that the policy is not about cost or care, but rather about driving transgender people out of the federal workforce. This move is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to restrict gender-affirming care in the US, particularly for minors.
In December, the administration proposed blocking Medicare and Medicaid funding for hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to children. Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has been vocal in his opposition to trans healthcare, calling it “malpractice.” These efforts began after Trump’s return to office in 2025, when he reinstated a policy recognizing only two sexes, male and female.
Advocacy groups, including the Trevor Project, have expressed concern over the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict gender-affirming care. Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, senior vice president of public engagement campaigns at the Trevor Project, has described the efforts as “deeply troubling.” The HRC and other groups are continuing to fight against the policy, arguing that it is discriminatory and harmful to transgender individuals and their families. The policy has been widely criticized, with many arguing that it is a step backwards for LGBTQ+ rights in the US.