USA 
United Kingdom
Federal government employees have filed a class action complaint against Donald Trump’s administration over a policy that eliminates coverage for gender-affirming care in federal health insurance programs.
The complaint was submitted Thursday by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation against the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on behalf of affected employees. The filing coincided with the policy taking effect at the start of the new year.
According to the complaint, the policy change removes coverage for certain forms of gender-affirming care for federal workers and US postal employees enrolled in government health plans. The foundation argues that the decision discriminates on the basis of sex and seeks to have the policy withdrawn.
The complaint also requests compensation for economic damages and other relief. If the matter is not resolved through OPM, the foundation said plaintiffs plan to pursue class claims before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and may seek to advance the case as a class action lawsuit in federal court.
OPM officials were not available for immediate comment following the filing.
OPM letter outlines coverage changes
Details of the policy were outlined in an August letter issued by OPM. The letter stated that in 2026, “chemical and surgical modification of an individual's sex traits through medical interventions” will no longer be covered under federal employee health insurance programs.
The change applies to health plans covering federal civilian employees as well as US postal workers. The policy has drawn criticism from employee advocates who say it represents a significant rollback in benefits access.
The complaint asserts that removing coverage for gender-affirming care violates protections against sex discrimination. It asks that the policy be rescinded and that affected workers receive appropriate remedies for financial harm.
The filing marks the latest legal effort challenging changes to health policy under the Trump administration, particularly those affecting transgender individuals.
Broader legal battles over gender-affirming care
The dispute involving federal employees follows separate legal action taken by Democratic state attorneys general last month. That group sued the Trump administration in an effort to block proposed rules that would reduce children’s access to gender-affirming care.
The proposed rules were put forward by US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. They would bar hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to children from participating in Medicaid and Medicare. The rules would also prohibit the Children’s Health Insurance Program from paying for such care.
Together, the cases reflect a growing number of court challenges tied to efforts by the administration to remove legal protections and funding related to gender-affirming healthcare.
The outcome of the complaint against OPM could have significant implications for benefits administration, compliance obligations, and employee relations, whilst also highlighting the increasing over-lap between federal health policy decisions and workplace discrimination claims.
