Why are institutions bowing to Trump's illegal anti-trans orders?

Some are cowards even if they do care.

Some have always secretly agreed but were afraid to act on it.

Some are just apathetic as long as it doesn't directly affect them.

But the bigesst reason? Money.

Well, they just cut every research university in the country’s money by limiting facilities and administration funding on science grants to 15% (with a few exceptions possible, if approved, presumably by Elon Musk).
Basically, a $1,000,000 grant to a research scientist comes with a corresponding payment to the university to build whatever is needed and run the lab. It’s usually close to 50% because research labs aren’t cheap. And with few exceptions, private companies don’t really fund basic research labs like they used to. (There is, obviously, a lot of private sector R&D but nothing like back in the day when Bell Labs, Xerox PARC, etc. were doing revolutionary work.)
- So basically the Brain Drain towards the US will slow down, maybe China will take over

Fear. But people need to realize that capitulation only makes this political terrorism stronger. The only solution is solidarity. United we are much stronger than this administration.

Fear of what though? What the root cause? I'm willing to bet it's not fear of being put in jail for having DEI practices in place. I'm willing to bet a case of craft beer it's the fear of losing money that's driving it. They didn't give a shit about the people unless you're a majority shareholder.
- Money is important though. People may lose their jobs if they don’t obey. Programs or even entire orgs will shut down.
  I am not saying they should capitulate but also sometimes you need to pick your battles also. I have heard some nonprofits are purging certain words but planning to keep doing the same work. Is that the right choice? I don’t know but if it allows services to keep going to the vulnerable then maybe.

Because our entire professional class in the USA has little backbone. People in my life with higher incomes still seem to think this will blow over.

I don't know why people think there is this upper crust of super smart or ultra hard working people. Intelligence really doesn't scale with pay or job type. Our own president is the ultimate proof of that.
It's kind of like when you become an adult and realize the adults never actually new what was going on and have just been winging it the entire time.

Money. Real lives are affected by defunding and losing your job in this economy.

Over 50% voted for this. Because news and social media are controlled by the oligarchs. And the smartest sociopaths for hire are crafting the propaganda strategy. So you're not even going to get a majority to back you up. Sanity and morality is now in the minority.

Please stop saying over 50% voted for this. A third of the electorate didn't vote. Yeah, fuck them, they could have stopped this, but it makes it sound like more than half of my country wants him to be president. More likely it's 30-40%
- The ones that didn't vote accepted any outcome, they are complicit
- More likely it's 30-40%
  The same hitler got
- It was also less than 50% of voters
- That's true, but in the liberal mindset, the majority gives you the moral mandate (liberal as in capitalist democracy, not derogatory). That the news and social media is owned and controlled by the oligarchs doesn't matter to the liberal mindset. Even cheating like gerrymandering didn't trigger riots and hanging of the culprits. It doesn't matter that they promised one thing but lied, that has been accepted for decades also.
  So within this mindset the majority spoke and has the mandate for this crap. Practically morality is determined by who has the most money / power. We accepted that greed is good. So it doesn't matter that the election was cheated, elections in the US have always been a farce, a spectacle. But it is effective to get those institutions in line.
  So I agree with you and think all the US elections in the last 50 years were illegitimate. But those institutions don't, they simply follow this liberal mindset.
- If they didn't vote then they are likely just apathetic towards it surely? Apathy doesn't start resistance movememts.

Because he's letting them do what they've always wanted.

Because we're terrified that society is crumbling, so we try to follow rules to feel some kind of order.

And because of an "if I don't do it, I'm next" mentality that often arises in these situations.
- And if you do it's easier for some to be next

Cowardice.

im' guessing it has a lot to do with old white dudes being in charge of those institutions. trump just gave them an excuse to do the shitty things they were otherwise embarrassed to say out loud.

plus corporations gave up on any and all ethics years ago. the concept of "right and wrong" does not exist for them.

If you want an actual answer: the answer is because it's still a pretty controversial topic in the US. If you leave the echo chamber here, you'll find the vast majority of people, even those who support the trans movement, are pretty universally against trans women competing in sports. The fact the movemen tried to force it down everyone's throat and shame anyone who disagreed moved a lot of people from neutral to negative.

When I was growing up, there was no girls wrestling, but "boys" sports in high school aren't "boys" they're "open". We had girls on the wrestling team, girls on the football team. Now as they got older and the boys got bigger and stronger, something like football is a generally a non-starter.

All of that is to say: corporations aren't going to die on this hill when there isn't a clear majority of Americans supporting it.

Sports weren't even the first thing Trump went after.
- I guess it's a good thing the question wasn't: what was the first thing Trump went after.
  The question was: why aren't corporations pushing back. If you read what I said, instead of apparently assuming I don't understand the order of events of Trumps idiocy, you'd see that I'm telling you that SPORTS has driven folks who would normally be neutral or supporting of transgender rights in the opposite direction. You can say that's stupid, you can say you don't like it, but that's reality. And the INSISTENCE on the trans community of pushing the sports thing gave Trump and company an in to make it the central focus of the discussion.
  Why on earth would ANY business get in the middle of that when, again, the majority of Americans do not support it? A topic like this leaves no room for nuance, either a company supports transgender rights and everything that goes with it (like the hotbutton sports topic) or they don't. It is safer for their sales to not.

Some of them couldn’t wait to lick his boots.

Because we're probably the least liked minority groups.

Why are we bowing to any of this? Where are our leaders?

Where are our leaders?
Tag, you're it!
The non-maga population and the left don't have any leadership. They have representatives in federal and state offices but they are really not leaders. The media may call them leaders but are they though? Does anyone really look to Chuck Schumer or Peolsi and say "Yes, these people are motivating me to step out of my comfort zone and do whats best for the country." NOPE.
There are some people in power that are being vocal and I think that is great, but honestly they haven't moved the needle to amping up the base to go out and protest, to support a general strike or any other disruption that will make an impression on the powers that be. The non-trumpers and left need, desperately, strong vocal leadership that goes to the people, draws on the fear and anger and uses the energy that comes from that to build a solid resistance.

I'll be honest, trans issues truly only impact a fraction of society. It's just an issue that's divisive and drives conflict and distracts from more pressing issues. That being said, they are still working towards his fascist agenda, and cooperating

No one in power* They have plenty of allies in the general polulation.
If your male, spend the next 6 months wearing women's clothes and come back here and tell me if no one cares.
I started socially transitioning over the summer, and trust me I got lots of microaggressions. With a fascist in the White House, I am fearful for my life.
Hate crime related murder during his last administration was a 28-year high. And this round folks are even more emboldened because of his pardons.
And if no one really cares, why all the anti-trans laws?
Speak for yourself, idiot.