'WE'LL SEE YOU IN COURT': HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION FILES CLASS ACTION IN FEDERAL COURT AGAINST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S OPM

The following information was released by the Human Rights Campaign:

by Aneesha Pappy - August 3, 2026

Lawsuit Challenges Policy Blocking Transgender Federal Workers and Family Members from Accessing Coverage for Necessary Healthcare

WASHINGTON Today, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF) and the law firm Correia and Puth filed a class action lawsuit in federal court on behalf of federal employees and their families, suing the Trump administration's Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for prohibiting health insurance coverage for gender-affirming care under the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) and Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) plans. Implemented this year, OPM's mandate has subjected federal employees and their families to even higher barriers to access potentially life-saving medical care, forcing many to leave federal employment, take on heavy financial burdens or navigate the devastating circumstances of being priced out of the care they need solely because of who they are. According to a new study from the Williams Institute, this policy exclusion will impact health access for at least 39,400 current and former federal employees and their dependents.

"Our message to the Trump administration is simple: We'll see you in court," said Human Rights Campaign Foundation President Kelley Robinson. "Healthcare access should never be weaponized to advance discrimination and the denial of coverage for critical healthcare based simply on who you are blatantly violates the rights of all of us. This odious policy is the latest example of the Trump administration's obsession with targeting transgender people, using shameful and cruel tactics to threaten their employment, their health and the well-being of themselves and their families. The OPM's actions will not go unchallenged, and we'll continue to fight so that federal employees and their families receive the dignity that they deserve.

The federal court filing asserts that OPM's prohibition on coverage for "gender transition" care in the FEHB and PSHB programs is in violation of Title VII. The claim is based on Title VII's protections against sex discrimination, which apply to the terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. "This categorical denial of treatment for those who require continuing gender-affirming care is akin to denying continuing insulin treatment for someone with diabetes," the lawsuit states.

"Federal employees have been through the wringer with the Trump administration. We draw the line at blatant discrimination to deny healthcare to our nation's dedicated civil servants," said Cathy Harris, Partner at Correia and Puth.

A timeline of this case:

Jan 1, 2026: OPM carrier letter goes into effect. HRCF files initial complaint on behalf of plaintiffs with OPM in response to their Carrier Letter mandating that insurance providers deny coverage for gender-affirming care.

Feb. 3, 2026: HRCF files formal complaints on behalf of plaintiffs with OPM, which were transferred to the EEOC.

Aug. 3, 2026: Class action filed in Federal District Court for the District of Columbia.

To receive updates on the case, visit https://www.hrc.org/fehb-class-action.

Benefits of Transgender Medical Care:

For many people, medical care for purposes of gender transition is medically necessary care that is supported by every major medical and mental health organization as best-practice medicine including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association. Research has consistently found that the receipt of gender-affirming care can significantly improve the lives of people who receive it.

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The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the nation's largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, with 3.6 million members and supporters. The HRC Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) works to ensure LGBTQ+ people are safe, seen and supported where it matters most: at school, at work and in every community across the country. From the courtroom to the classroom, from Congress to corporate America, HRC and the HRC Foundation build power through partnerships, storytelling, and actionworking to create a future rooted in equity, freedom and belonging for all LGBTQ+ people.

Correia and Puth, PLLC is a civil rights law firm based in the District of Columbia dedicated to representing individuals confronting discrimination, retaliation, and unfair treatment. The lawyers of Correia and Puth are staunch advocates for individuals who face discrimination in the workplace, schools, healthcare settings, and other places of public accommodation.