Trump officially declares that the US government recognizes only two genders: male and female
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump repealed a series of executive orders that had championed diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and protections for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and racial minorities, fulfilling his pledge to roll back safeguards for marginalized groups.
Upon taking office, Trump rescinded 78 executive orders signed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, including more than a dozen aimed at promoting racial equity and combating discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals. Among these was a Biden-era order advancing racial equity for underserved communities and another combating discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
One of Trump’s newly signed orders declares that the U.S. government will only recognize two immutable sexes — male and female. A senior White House official had previewed the move earlier in the day, signaling a sharp departure from Biden's policies.
"This week, I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life," Trump announced during his inaugural address, marking his return to the presidency after a four-year hiatus. "We will forge a society that is color-blind and merit-based. As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female."
Trump’s administration also plans to dismantle programs such as environmental justice grants and diversity training initiatives, labeling them as discriminatory. Additionally, the administration has repealed measures intended to support Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities.
Tanya Neslusan, executive director of the advocacy group MassEquality, described Trump’s remarks as consistent with his administration’s previous "anti-LGBT … and transphobic rhetoric" but raised concerns about their implications. "What does that really mean — it being 'official policy'? There are a lot of steps that need to be taken that are more specific than just saying it is official policy," Neslusan told a CBS affiliate in Boston.
The rollback of DEI policies coincided with this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday commemorating the late civil rights leader, underscoring the stark contrast between the values being celebrated and the actions taken.