Demand Action on Menstrual Product Access in Federal Detention

I am writing to you again today to bring your attention to a new Government Accountability Office report that was published Monday. That report exposes unacceptable conditions for women and transgender individuals in federal custody who lack consistent access to menstrual products. This investigation, requested by Rep. Grace Meng and eight other members of Congress, documented conditions between July 2024 and February 2026 across five federal prisons and three ICE detention facilities. This is degrading and creates serious health risks. Federal prisons are failing to comply with the 2018 First Step Act, which requires free tampons and sanitary napkins meeting industry standards in quantities that meet healthcare needs. GAO found that some institutions do not provide all five required product types in common areas or replenish them within the mandated 24-hour timeframe. ICE facilities face even worse problems, with three different inconsistent standards, one of which does not mention menstrual products at all. The Department of Homeland Security declined to implement GAO's recommendations, claiming that changes would create "undue burdens." This response is unacceptable when detention populations have surged from 40,000 to nearly 70,000 people during this administration. As Miriam Vishniac of the Prison Flow Project stated, the lack of documented procedures leaves menstruating people "at the mercy of their captors" and creates opportunities for abuse. I urge you to take immediate action to ensure federal agencies comply with existing laws and establish clear, enforceable standards for menstrual product provision across all detention facilities. Basic hygiene is not a luxury.