Federal Employees Challenge Ban on Transgender Healthcare Coverage

• •Federal employees are suing OPM to restore gender-affirming care coverage.
• •The coverage ban affects an estimated 39,400 to 57,800 transgender individuals.
• •The lawsuit claims the ban violates civil rights protections under Title VII.

A group of federal employees has filed for a preliminary injunction against the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to restore gender-affirming care coverage in federal health insurance plans. The lawsuit claims that the elimination of this coverage, enacted by the Trump administration, violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and causes irreparable harm to thousands of federal employees and their families. The OPM's recent directive has significantly reduced coverage for gender-affirming treatments, allowing only counseling services for the upcoming plan year. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation supports the lawsuit, highlighting the urgent need for access to critical healthcare for transgender individuals. The preliminary injunction request comes just before the Open Season for health plan enrollment, which ends on December 14, 2026. The plaintiffs estimate that between 39,400 and 57,800 transgender individuals, including employees and dependents, are affected by the coverage ban.