The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has suspended the enforcement of a regulation that prevented discrimination based on gender identity in federally funded programs. This move, which could limit access to essential services for transgender individuals, follows a recent directive issued by HUD Secretary Scott Turner shortly after he assumed office.
In a decisive shift from previous policies, Turner ordered the halt of any future or pending enforcement actions related to the 2016 rule known as Equal Access in Accordance With an Individual’s Gender Identity in Community Planning and Development Programs. This regulation expanded upon the 2012 Equal Access Rule, which prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and marital status, ensuring that core HUD programs were open to all eligible individuals and families.
Now, under the new directive, housing programs, shelters, and other HUD-funded service providers will align their services based on an individual’s sex at birth, mirroring former President Donald Trump’s executive order that declared “there are only two sexes.” As a result, transgender individuals, particularly trans women, may face significant barriers to accessing female-designated shelters and other services intended to support women.
Turner, a former NFL player for the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers, defended the policy change during a recent announcement, claiming that the 2016 rule had linked HUD programs to “far-left gender ideology.” He emphasized that the department’s efforts would align with President Trump’s stance on biological sex.
“We, at this agency, are carrying out the mission laid out by President Trump when he signed an executive order to restore biological truth to the federal government,” Turner said. “This means recognizing there are only two sexes: male and female. It means getting government out of the way of what the Lord established from the beginning when he created man in his own image.”
In his comments, Turner also outlined his broader goals for HUD, vowing to focus on the department’s core mission of providing affordable housing and promoting economic investment in communities nationwide. He stressed that the decision was part of a broader effort to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and in line with the administration’s priorities.
This move comes as part of a larger pattern of actions taken by the Trump administration to restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those in the transgender community. The former president signed several executive orders during his time in office that targeted the rights of transgender people, including a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, prohibitions on trans women competing in women’s sports, and limitations on gender-affirming healthcare for minors.
While the suspension of the HUD rule is viewed as a significant setback for LGBTQ+ advocates, the change could have far-reaching implications. Transgender individuals, particularly those experiencing homelessness, rely heavily on federally funded shelters and housing programs for basic safety and survival. Without the protections that the 2016 rule provided, many could face discrimination or be forced into unsafe environments.
LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have already expressed their concerns over the decision, warning that it could disproportionately impact vulnerable trans people. Organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign and the National LGBTQ Task Force have criticized the move as a step backward for civil rights, particularly for transgender individuals who are already at higher risk of homelessness and violence.
The decision to stop enforcing the Equal Access rule is also likely to reignite ongoing debates about the rights of transgender individuals in the U.S. Critics argue that such policies undermine the basic principle of equal access to services, while supporters of the move argue that it represents a necessary correction to what they see as overreach by the previous administration.
As the HUD policy change begins to take effect, LGBTQ+ advocates are bracing for potential legal challenges and further legislative actions aimed at reversing the decision. The battle over LGBTQ+ rights, particularly for transgender individuals, is expected to remain a key point of contention in U.S. politics, with both sides preparing for continued advocacy and resistance in the months ahead.
The suspension of this rule highlights the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States, a fight that continues to evolve at the intersection of law, policy, and public opinion. For now, the fate of transgender access to HUD programs rests in the hands of the current administration, which has made clear its intention to prioritize other issues, such as affordable housing and economic development, over the inclusion of transgender individuals in federally funded services.
As the situation unfolds, transgender advocates and their allies will likely continue to push for protections and push back against efforts to roll back hard-won rights.
