Passport Sanity Act
The Passport Sanity Act would bar the U.S. Department of State from issuing any passport, passport card, or Consular Report of Birth Abroad that uses the nonbinary “X” gender designation. It would also require that every application for a covered document include only the gender designations “male” or “female.” The bill defines a “covered document” as a passport, passport card, or Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State. In short, it removes the option for an X gender marker on these documents and mandates a binary gender designation on applications. The bill, titled the Passport Sanity Act, was introduced in the Senate on October 1, 2025, by Senator Marshall with co-sponsors including Senators Blackburn, Ricketts, and Moody. It is currently at the introduction stage and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. The text provided covers only short-title and prohibition provisions, with no details on effective dates, enforcement, or penalties.
Key Points
- 1Defines “covered document” to include passports, passport cards, and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State.
- 2Requires that applications for covered documents include only the gender designation “male” or “female.”
- 3Prohibits the issuance of any covered document with the unspecified “X” gender designation.
- 4Establishes the act’s short title as the “Passport Sanity Act.”
- 5Has a limited scope in the text available: only two substantive provisions (definitions and prohibitions) with no additional implementing details provided.