The US State Department has announced the suspension of processing passport applications with the gender marker ‘X,’ following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
The order, signed on Monday, establishes that the U.S. government will recognize only two sexes—male and female—stating that these classifications are “immutable” and “not changeable.”
A spokesperson for the State Department confirmed on Friday that passports would now reflect an individual’s biological sex as defined in the executive order. Additionally, no new passports will be issued with the ‘X’ marker, which was introduced under the Biden administration in April 2022 to accommodate non-binary, intersex, and gender-nonconforming individuals.
“Guidance regarding previously issued X sex marker passports is forthcoming,” the spokesperson said.
The executive order mandates that all government agencies update official documents—including passports, visas, and Global Entry cards—to reflect an individual’s biological sex. Employee records across federal departments will also adhere to this standard.
The policy shift extends beyond documentation. The federal government will replace the term “gender” with “sex” in official communication. A Trump administration official emphasized that “sex” is now defined as an individual’s fixed biological classification.
On the campaign trail, Trump had pledged to restrict the use of federal funds for gender-affirming procedures. The new executive order also states that hospitals and healthcare providers offering gender-affirming care to minors may lose their eligibility to meet federal health and safety standards under Medicaid and Medicare.
This policy reversal marks a significant rollback of LGBTQ+ rights introduced under the Biden administration, sparking debates over gender recognition and healthcare rights in the US.
