WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order on Monday establishing federal policies that restrict recognition of gender identity and reaffirm sex-based distinctions across government agencies.
The order, titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” directs federal agencies to define “sex” strictly as an immutable biological characteristic determined at conception. It also eliminates prior federal policies that included gender identity as a protected category in areas such as education, employment, and housing.
“Efforts to eradicate the biological reality of sex fundamentally attack women by depriving them of their dignity, safety, and well-being,” the order states, as it requires agencies to remove policies and materials deemed supportive of gender identity concepts and limit federal funding to programs that align with gender ideology.
The executive order overturns several directives from the Biden administration, including guidance under Title IX that allowed transgender individuals access to facilities and programs consistent with their gender identity. Federal identification documents, including passports, will now reflect only biological sex, according to the order.
New Jersey currently allows multiple gender designation on state documents in the form of M (Male), F (Female), X (Other). New Jersey forms and law will not be affected by this at the state level as the order applies only to federal agencies and services.
New Jerseyans will be affected for passports, federal assistance forms, housing, and other federal agencies where only two sexes will appear on forms under the Trump administration.