Donald Trump’s return to the White House has already resulted in sweeping policy changes, including a new executive order that directly impacts US passports.
President Trump signed over 20 executive orders and actions on Inauguration Day ‒ more than any previous US president – as he wasted no time in making his vision for America a reality.
One order, titled “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government”, has drawn significant attention for its implications on gender identity and official documentation.
Trump’s Policy and Its Implications
The executive order, which centers around the belief that there are only two genders — male and female — affects a range of federal policies.
“It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female,” the order reads. “These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.”
One major outcome is that transgender women will no longer be housed in female prisons. Another significant impact is on US passports, particularly for individuals identifying as non-binary.
The U.S. State Department has now frozen all applications for passports featuring an ‘X’ gender marker or requests for changes to gender identity, following Trump’s directive, per The Economic Times.
The executive order mandates that all government-issued identification documents must reflect an individual’s “immutable biological classification as either male or female.”
State Department’s Immediate Action
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed State Department personnel to implement the order without delay.
According to an internal email obtained by The Guardian, Rubio stated: “The policy of the United States is that an individual’s sex is not changeable.”
The email clarified that “sex, and not gender, shall be used” for official documentation, including passports and consular birth reports abroad.
While new applications for passports with an ‘X’ marker are frozen, there is no immediate impact on previously issued passports.
Existing Passports Remain Valid — For Now
The White House has confirmed that passports already issued with an ‘X’ gender marker will remain valid. However, guidance on the renewal process for these passports is still under review.
Rubio’s email noted: “Guidance on existing passports containing an X sex marker will come via other channels.”
Background on Non-Binary Passports
The ‘X’ gender marker was first introduced during the Biden administration in April 2022. Then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the measure on Transgender Day of Visibility, touting it as a step toward inclusivity for non-binary, intersex, and gender-nonconforming Americans.
Trump’s policy marks a stark reversal of this move, signaling a broader agenda to undo many of the Biden administration’s initiatives.
Immediate Changes Under Trump’s New Administration
Within hours of being sworn in, Trump took action by signing several executive orders and memorandums.
Among the most notable was the mass pardon of 1,500 individuals either convicted or facing charges related to the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riots.
Within the White House itself, Trump has stated that he is in the process of “identifying and removing over a thousand Presidential Appointees from the previous Administration, who are not aligned with our vision to Make America Great Again”.
Trump also temporarily reversed the TikTok ban, which had taken effect just days before his inauguration. His administration plans to conduct further reviews of the app’s national security implications.
The White House released a statement explaining the decision: “To fulfil those responsibilities, I intend to consult with my advisors, including the heads of relevant departments and agencies on the national security concerns posed by TikTok, and to pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform used by 170 million Americans.
“My Administration must also review sensitive intelligence related to those concerns and evaluate the sufficiency of mitigation measures TikTok has taken to date.”
As Trump settles into his second presidency, this executive order underscores his administration’s focus on redefining federal recognition of gender identity — a move likely to provoke heated debate and legal challenges.
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