‘Only two sexes’: Trump administration orders federal agencies to eliminate “gender ideology”

The Trump administration has directed federal agencies to eliminate what he referred to as  “gender ideology” from contracts, job descriptions, and social media accounts in alignment with a new executive order recognizing only two sexes.

A memo issued Wednesday by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management provides guidance on enforcing President Donald Trump’s directive, which mandates that agencies “recognize women are biologically female, and men are biologically male.”

This move is part of Trump’s broader rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which has sparked criticism from rights groups fearing the erosion of LGBTQ+ protections.

Trump recently stated that federal funds will no longer support “gender ideology,” a term often used by conservative groups to oppose non-traditional gender identities. Rights advocates argue that this language dehumanizes LGBTQ+ individuals and undermines their civil rights.

The administration also aims to limit the reach of a landmark 2020 Supreme Court ruling that extended anti-discrimination protections based on sex to include gender identity and sexuality.

Agencies must now review job descriptions and place on leave employees whose roles involve promoting gender ideology. Federal websites and social media accounts must also be scrubbed of related content.

Additionally, the order mandates that sex-segregated spaces—such as restrooms and locker rooms—be designated strictly by biological sex.

Trump has also ended federal support for gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth, following an earlier ban on transgender individuals serving in the military.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced Wednesday that 85 DEI-related contracts, worth approximately $1 billion, have been terminated across multiple agencies, though further details were not provided.