Preventing Violence Against Female Inmates Act of 2025

Summary

Requires federal prisons to determine housing based on an individual’s biological sex as defined by chromosomes, hormones, gonads, and genitalia present at birth, and bars placing people of different biological sexes together in detention except for brief, non‑overnight interactions. It also conditions certain federal public safety grant funds to states on a state certification that the state uses biological sex for housing decisions and prohibits co‑locating people of different biological sexes in detention, with the funding condition taking effect the first fiscal year after enactment.

• Requires federal prisons to use an individual’s biological sex at birth (defined by chromosomes, hormones, gonads, and genitalia) for housing decisions.
• Prohibits co‑locating persons of different biological sexes in detention, with a limited exception for temporary non‑overnight situations.
• Conditions certain federal public‑safety grant funds to states on a state certification that the state follows the same biological‑sex housing rules.
• The grant‑condition requirement becomes effective the first fiscal year after enactment; the bill does not appropriate new funding for implementation.
• Applies directly to the Bureau of Prisons and indirectly influences state and local detention policies via federal grant eligibility.
• Likely to have significant operational impacts on intake, classification, transfers, medical assessments, privacy, and facility use.
• May prompt litigation and civil‑rights challenges focused on treatment of transgender detainees and compliance with nondiscrimination laws.
• Does not create a new federal enforcement penalty beyond conditioning grant eligibility; enforcement in federal facilities is administrative.