New Role, Old Agenda: Trump Expected to Appoint Stephen Miller to Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy
President-elect Donald Trump is expected to appoint Stephen Miller as his deputy chief of staff for policy, raising significant concerns for advocates of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Known for his hardline views on immigration and opposition to transgender rights, Miller’s role could steer U.S. policy toward more restrictive measures affecting SRHR, particularly targeting transgender individuals and communities in vulnerable settings.
Miller’s organisation, America First Legal, has a record of challenging inclusive policies, often targeting transgender protections. In a joint effort with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, America First Legal sued to block Title IX guidelines intended to protect transgender students from discrimination, including access to gender-aligned restrooms. Miller condemned these protections, describing them as “humiliating” for women and girls, underscoring his stance against expanding transgender rights.
America First Legal also contributed to “Project 2025,” a 920-page policy blueprint led by the Heritage Foundation that proposes far-reaching changes to federal policies. This blueprint includes plans to dismantle protections for transgender people, cut back on SRHR, and restrict reproductive health access. One of its controversial proposals is to rename the Department of Health and Human Services to “the Department of Life,” signaling its intended role in advancing policies that restrict abortion and gender-affirming care.
Ahead of the 2022 midterms, America First Legal launched anti-transgender campaigns across various states. Radio ads aired in over 25 states, claiming gender-affirming care would “sterilise” children and accusing the Biden administration of supporting “radical gender experiments.” In Colorado, the organisation distributed Spanish-language mailers in Latinx communities, warning families about “radical and irreversible gender experiments.”
Miller’s appointment has drawn criticism from rights groups who worry that his policies will target already marginalised communities, making it harder for transgender individuals and people in fragile settings to access essential health services. The proposed measures in Project 2025 could shift national policy away from inclusivity, potentially setting a precedent for more restrictive practices affecting SRHR across the U.S.
As Miller steps into this role, concerns are mounting about the potential rollback of health protections, particularly for those in vulnerable communities. Rights advocates fear that the impact of these policies will limit SRHR access and erase vital protections, reversing years of progress in health equity and inclusivity.