WASHINGTON, USA – President Donald Trump is poised to sign an executive order mandating that the federal government recognize only two sexes, male and female.
The move, announced during Trump’s inaugural address Monday, January 20, 2025, will roll back inclusive policies implemented under the Biden administration, including the ability to select “X” as a gender marker on U.S. passports.
Restoring “Biological Truths”
The order is described as a cornerstone of Trump’s culture war promises.
“As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female,” Trump said during his speech.
A senior Trump administration official elaborated, stating that the order aims to “defend women from gender ideology extremism and restore biological truths to the federal government.”
The official defined sex as “an individual’s immutable biological classification.”
Impact on Federal Policies
The executive order will require all government agencies to align official documents, including passports, Social Security records, and visas, with an individual’s biological sex.
It will reverse Biden-era provisions that allowed individuals to select “X” as their gender marker without medical documentation or consistency with other IDs.
Departments overseeing federal prisons, migrant shelters, and single-sex spaces such as rape crisis centres will also be required to enforce policies that protect spaces based on biological sex.
Federal grants and contracts will be reviewed to ensure they do not promote what the administration referred to as “gender ideology.”
“Agencies are no longer going to promote gender ideology through communication forms and other messages,” the senior official said, adding that federal funds will no longer be allocated to projects supporting diverse gender identities.
Reversing Biden’s Policies
Under the Biden administration, the federal government took significant steps to accommodate gender-diverse individuals.
In 2022, the State Department began allowing U.S. citizens to select “X” as their gender marker on passports without requiring supporting medical documentation.
The Social Security Administration also allowed individuals to change their gender markers on records without providing medical certification, although the system continued to require a binary designation of male or female.
At the time, the Biden administration stated that the policies were part of efforts to “promote the freedom, dignity, and equality of all people—including LGBTQI+ individuals.”
Backlash and Support
Advocacy groups have criticised the Trump administration’s order, calling it a rollback of hard-won protections for transgender and nonbinary individuals.
“This order signals a blatant disregard for the dignity and rights of LGBTQ+ Americans,” said Sarah Warbelow, legal director for the Human Rights Campaign.
“By erasing inclusive policies, the administration is sending a dangerous message to millions of people who identify outside the binary.”
Supporters of the order argue that it upholds clarity and fairness in public policy.
Conservative advocacy groups have praised the decision, framing it as a move to protect privacy and ensure the integrity of single-sex spaces.
Broader Implications
Trump’s executive order is expected to spark legal challenges from civil rights organisations and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
The move also positions the U.S. at odds with evolving global norms, as many nations are adopting inclusive policies for nonbinary and gender-diverse individuals.
As the executive order takes effect, it is likely to reignite debates over the intersection of gender identity, civil rights, and federal policy in America.
