President Donald Trump’s latest executive order reshapes federal policy by mandating biological sex as the primary factor in defining gender identity.
Key Takeaways
- The executive order emphasizes the importance of biological sex in federal policy.
- Federal documents must now reflect biological sex instead of gender identity.
- Previous policies supporting gender identity inclusivity are rescinded.
- Federal funding for gender-affirming programs is halted.
Executive Order Background
President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” on January 20, 2025. The directive aims to reinstitute biological sex as the federal standard, discounting other gender identities. Federal agencies are tasked with enforcing this stance across policies and official documentation.
This order underscores the significance of biological sex for safeguarding women’s rights, mandating federal policies to define “male” and “female” based on reproductive roles. All federal guidance inconsistent with the executive order is to be revised or revoked within a 30-day period by the respective agencies.
Policy Implications and Enforcement
According to the mandate, federal identification documents will reflect an individual’s biological sex. Spaces designated for a single sex will be based on biological determination, excluding transgender individuals from choosing facilities aligned with their identity. Furthermore, federal resources will no longer facilitate programs related to gender ideology or gender-affirming care.
Previously established federal guidelines supporting gender identity inclusivity, such as those from the Department of Education, are rescinded. Transgender individuals will no longer be able to update gender markers on federal IDs like passports. Transgender Day of Visibility may also see diminished federal recognition under these new guidelines.
Revoking Past Guidelines
Agencies must deliver compliance updates within 120 days, and steps will be taken to codify these changes into federal law. The Office of Personnel Management and federal departments will be required to emphasize “sex” over “gender identity” on official documentation. The shift aligns with the administration’s perspective that biology—not perception—determines gender.
“Biology determines gender, not subjective belief,” Vance and newly confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in a 2023 letter to the U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Santos.
This policy shift could have a profound impact on workplace dynamics and shared public spaces. While critics claim these measures may disadvantage the LGBTQ+ community, proponents argue they restore common-sense policies rooted in biological reality.
