REPORT: Congressional MAGA Republicans’ Continued Obsession with Transgender People

WASHINGTON - As Congress works on necessary FY26 government funding legislation that must be passed by January 30, 2026, the Human Rights Campaign is out with a new report outlining the latest wave of anti-LGBTQ+ riders proposed by MAGA Republicans and their cruel, multi-pronged effort to weaponize appropriations bills, the National Defense Authorization Act, the rescissions process, and executive actions against LGBTQ+ people. The latest wave of proposed anti-LGBTQ+ riders looks even more out of touch just weeks after voters rejected anti-trans scapegoating at the ballot box and sent a clear message: leaders should tackle the issues keeping people up at night or face political defeat.

"This country deserves leadership that uses its power to help meet the needs of the people. Instead, MAGA Republicans make everything about attacking transgender people," said David Stacy, Human Rights Campaign Vice President of Government Affairs. "They have now spent three years attempting to poison these must-pass bills with anti-LGBTQ+ riders that polarizes the House appropriations process and weaponizes the federal government against our community, while doing nothing to address the urgent needs of their constituents. The American people have been clear: anti-equality politicians should stop shirking responsibility and actually serve all of their constituents. Pro-equality members of Congress must defeat the latest wave of anti-LGBTQ+ provisions and hold the line against hate."

In all, more than 50 anti-LGBTQ+ riders have been attached to 12 must-pass FY26 federal appropriations bills at some point in the appropriations process this year. The anti-LGBTQ+ proposals include efforts to restrict access to medically necessary health care, undermine nondiscrimination protections, decimate programs that support a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce, restrict drag performances, and ban pride flags from being flown.

These provisions are part of an all-out assault by anti-equality politicians on LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion in society:

• A flood of standalone bills and amendments, including those to police bathrooms, censor curriculum, gut federal nondiscrimination protections, and ban transgender youth from playing sports, have been introduced by MAGA Republicans in Congress.
• The rescissions process has been weaponized to tear away money that was already secured for LGBTQ+ health, HIV prevention, housing, violence prevention, and community-based services.
• President Trump began issuing a raft of anti-LGBTQ+ executive orders on day one of his administration.

• The administration has upended US foreign aid funding, including funds to support health care services that disproportionately impact LGBTQ+ people.

"This year, the Trump administration took a sledgehammer to U.S. foreign assistance, decimating programs around the world that protected and advanced the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons," said Mark Bromley, Co-Chair of the Council for Global Equality. "The results have been catastrophic for our community. LGBTQI+ organizations across the globe have been forced to lay off staff and clinics have closed, leaving many without access to life-saving services. Rather than standing up for decades-long, bipartisan investments in foreign aid, House Republicans chose to stoke the flames of hate and scapegoated global LGBTQI+ programs and organizations that promoted human rights, democracy, and health. Under Republican leadership, the appropriations process is now just another tool to target LGBTQI+ persons around the world. We call on pro-equality lawmakers in Congress to stand firm in opposing anti-LGBTQI+ riders in foreign assistance and demand a foreign policy that invests in the dignity, human rights, and economic potential of all, rather than at the expense of some."

This onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ provisions looks even more out of touch just weeks after the American people delivered an overwhelming repudiation of anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns across the country. Candidates like Virginia's Winsome Earle-Sears who attempted to deflect from the devastation of the failing Trump economy by scapegoating transgender people were crushed at the ballot box. On election night, HRC released a memo detailing the impending failure of anti-trans ad campaigns and overwhelming American support for equality.

Nearly two-in-three Americans support federal nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people, including 58% of independents and 42% of Republicans. The vast majority of Americans - nearly 7 in 10 - think that politicians are not informed enough about health care for transgender youth to create fair policies; and nearly half think that politicians should not be focused on transgender issues at all. And 70% of Americans say they are concerned that politicians are attacking gay and transgender youth to divide us, maintain their political power and control, and score political points. Nevertheless, MAGA Republicans in Congress are ignoring American fury over soaring prices and a collapsing economy and doubling down on their out-of-touch Anti-LGBTQ+ crusade.

HRC's full report can be found here.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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