On January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump enacted an executive order titled "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government."

This directive reinstates biological sex as the foundation for federal policy, clearly defining men and women as biologically male and female, while dismissing gender identity as a policy basis.

Key Elements of the Executive Order
Biological Definitions of Sex
The order defines sex as an individual's fixed biological categorization as male or female, established at conception.

It asserts that terms like 'man,' 'woman,' 'boy,' and 'girl' are grounded in biological sex, not gender identity.

Federal agencies are tasked with enforcing laws and policies according to these definitions.

Elimination of Gender Ideology
The order requires the removal of federal policies, regulations, and documents that support gender ideology.

Federal funding is banned for programs or grants endorsing gender identity concepts.

Agencies are instructed to replace the term 'gender' with 'sex' in all official documents and communications.

Protection of Single-Sex Spaces
The order mandates federal agencies to adopt policies that ensure the protection of single-sex spaces such as women’s shelters, prisons, and workplace facilities.

It forbids housing biologically male inmates in women’s prisons and mandates revising pertinent federal regulations.

Medical procedures for gender transition under federal funding are prohibited.

Federal Identification Documents
The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, along with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, must ensure government-issued identification documents, like passports and visas, reflect biological sex.

Personnel records for federal employees must also align with the order’s definitions.

Revision of Guidance and Regulations
The Attorney General is tasked with issuing guidance to federal agencies to ensure adherence to the order.

This involves revising interpretations of Title IX and other laws to prioritize distinctions based on sex.

The order explicitly reverses prior guidance from the 2020 Bostock v. Clayton County decision on gender identity.

Reporting and Implementation
Federal agencies are required to submit implementation updates within 120 days.

These updates should include policy, regulation, form, and grant modifications to conform to the order.

Conflicting provisions in prior executive orders have been revoked, and specific documents promoting gender ideology have been listed for removal.

Protecting Women’s Privacy and Rights
The executive order emphasizes protecting women’s privacy and dignity by preserving single-sex spaces.

Agencies must ensure compliance with laws safeguarding sex-based rights and freedoms in workplaces and federally funded entities.

This executive action sets a comprehensive federal strategy to restore biological definitions of sex in policy and address gender ideology.

It supports the administration's focus on protecting women’s rights and maintaining scientific and biological clarity in governance.