Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government
This executive order establishes a framework to redefine how the federal government treats sex and gender in policy and programs. It declares sex to be immutable and biological (male or female) and asserts that women, girls, men, and boys have distinct biological categories. The order directs federal agencies to interpret statutes and administer programs using these sex-based definitions, remove or limit references to gender identity in official materials, and refrain from funding activities that promote what it calls “gender ideology.” It also emphasizes protecting single-sex spaces (like women’s shelters and prisons) and directs actions to ensure spaces and services align with sex-based distinctions. The order rescinds several prior policies and establishes reporting and legislative steps to codify its definitions. It further assigns roles to the Attorney General and agency heads to issue guidance, rescind inconsistent documents, and propose legislation within specified timelines. In short, the order aims to center biological sex in federal policy, restrict the influence of gender-identity concepts in federal programs, and enforce single-sex distinctions across government spaces and services.
Key Points
- 1Definitions and policy shift
- 2- Sex is defined as immutable biological classification (male or female). “Sex” is not the same as “gender identity.”
- 3- Terms such as women, men, girls, and boys are defined by biological sex; “gender ideology” and “gender identity” are described as concepts that replace sex.
- 4Agency interpretation and language
- 5- All federal agencies must enforce sex-based rights and use sex-based definitions in statutes, regulations, guidance, and official communications.
- 6- Agencies should use sex terminology (e.g., male/female, men/women) in policies and documents and avoid terms tied to gender identity.
- 7Funding and guidance
- 8- Federal funds may not be used to promote gender ideology; agencies must review grant conditions to ensure funds are not used for such purposes.
- 9- The Attorney General will issue guidance to prevent misapplication of Bostock-era interpretations to sex-based distinctions and will help agencies protect sex-based distinctions.
- 10Privacy, spaces, and services
- 11- Men must not be detained or housed in women’s prisons/detention centers; amendments to relevant regulations may be needed.
- 12- A policy is to rescind the 2016 HUD rule on “Equal Access in Accordance with an Individual’s Gender Identity,” and to establish rules protecting women seeking single-sex shelters.
- 13- Federal prisons and medical care within federal facilities should align with the order, including limits on procedures intended to conform appearance to the opposite sex.
- 14- Intimate spaces designated for women must be kept by sex, not gender identity.
- 15Enforcement and implementation
- 16- The Attorney General and other agency heads are to issue guidance and prioritize enforcement of the binary sex rights in workplaces and federally funded entities.
- 17- Within 30 days, a bill text to codify these definitions will be prepared; within 120 days, agencies must report on implementation, including changes to documents and requirements imposed on federally funded entities.
- 18- The order supersedes certain prior executive orders and rescinds the White House Gender Policy Council, along with listed guidance documents and tools.