Continue Defending Transgender Rights in Appropriations Process

I am writing to express my strong support for the removal of all anti-transgender provisions from the final appropriations bills for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education released this week. This represents a critical victory for transgender Americans and demonstrates the power of principled legislative leadership. When the government shut down on October 1, House appropriations bills contained dozens of anti-transgender riders, including provisions that would have banned federal funds for gender-affirming care at any age, stripped funding from schools supporting transgender students, and mandated exclusion of transgender students from college sports and activities. The fact that none of these harmful provisions appear in the final bills is a testament to effective advocacy and negotiation. I particularly appreciate the work of Ranking Members DeLauro and Murray, along with Democratic leadership and Representative Sarah McBride, who fought to strip these riders from multiple appropriations packages throughout the funding process. Their success in removing the gender-affirming care ban from the NDAA after it had passed both chambers shows what determined opposition can achieve. While the Trump administration continues attacking transgender people through executive actions including sports bans, funding cuts to schools and hospitals, and passport restrictions, congressional action matters differently. Executive orders last only as long as a president remains in office. Congressional legislation would have created lasting harm extending well beyond any single administration. The absence of anti-transgender language in these appropriations bills provides relief from new congressional attacks through most of 2026. However, this fight is not over. I urge you to continue opposing any future attempts to insert anti-transgender provisions into must-pass legislation. Stand firm against riders that would deny healthcare, threaten school funding, or mandate discrimination in any form. Transgender Americans deserve the same dignity, healthcare access, and educational opportunities as all constituents. I ask that you maintain this commitment to protecting their rights in all future legislative negotiations.