President Trump Signs Executive Order Declaring Federal Recognition of Biological Sexes
On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating that the federal government recognize only two biological sexes, male and female. The order, titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” marks a reversal of prior policies that allowed individuals to identify as something other than male or female on federal forms, including options like “X” or “other.”
“Across the country, ideologues who deny the biological reality of sex have increasingly used legal and other socially coercive means to permit men to self-identify as women and gain access to intimate single-sex spaces and activities designed for women, from women’s domestic abuse shelters to women’s workplace showers. This is wrong,” the order stated. “Efforts to eradicate the biological reality of sex fundamentally attack women by depriving them of their dignity, safety, and well-being.”
The order defines “sex” as an “individual’s immutable biological classification as either male or female.” It also emphasized that “sex” is “not a synonym for and does not include the concept of ‘gender identity,’” claiming that the term gender ideology is “internally inconsistent.”
“Basing Federal policy on truth is critical to scientific inquiry, public safety, morale, and trust in government itself,” the order emphasized.
The directive outlines the administration’s commitment to enforcing laws and policies grounded in the “biological reality of sex.” It also directs federal agencies to review policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure alignment with its definitions of sex.
The order comes in the wake of numerous controversies regarding women’s sports, where biological men have shared locker rooms with female athletes and have taken opportunities from them all while claiming to be transgender. Former NCAA swimmer and women’s rights activist Riley Gaines commented on the new policy, applauding the president for his decision.
“We finally have a true CHAMPION for women in the White House,” Gaines said. “Sex-based definitions are already law in 8 states & introduced in 8 more. Today, it will be established at the federal level.”
