President Donald Trump is set to sign executive orders on Monday that will eliminate protections for transgender individuals and dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the federal government. This action aligns with Trump’s inauguration speech, where he promised to terminate attempts at “socially engineering” race and gender in all aspects of life.
These orders represent significant changes in federal policy and reflect commitments made during his campaign. One of the directives will stipulate that the federal government recognizes only two fixed sexes, male and female, based strictly on biological characteristics such as the presence of eggs or sperm, rather than relying on chromosomes or gender identity. Supporters of this change, such as the American Family Association, view this as a reaffirmation of traditional notions of gender, while medical organizations like the American Medical Association and American Psychiatric Association assert that gender should be understood as a spectrum.
The new order will require the segregation of federal prisons, as well as shelters designed for migrants, rape victims, and others, according to this binary definition. Additionally, it will prohibit the use of federal funds for gender transition services. Although a limited number of federal inmates have accessed gender-affirming surgeries, such treatments have previously been funded through federal programs. Medicaid in select states has provided coverage for these services, but a recent ruling has paused an initiative by the Biden administration that aimed to broaden this coverage nationwide.
Furthermore, the order aims to eliminate requirements mandating that transgender individuals be referred to by pronouns corresponding to their gender identity in federal workplaces. Trump’s administration argues that such mandates infringe upon First Amendment rights, specifically freedom of speech and religion. However, the directive does not explicitly dictate which bathrooms transgender individuals may use or influence their participation in sports, though numerous states have enacted laws concerning these topics.
Civil rights organizations are preparing to contest the executive orders in court. Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign, declared that their advocates would not back down and pledged to vigorously challenge these deleterious provisions.
In a separate move, Trump will also target federal agencies’ DEI initiatives, which have faced criticism from conservatives for allegedly breaching constitutional principles through racially and gender-based preferences. He elicited cheers at a recent rally when he expressed intentions to abolish DEI requirements in military and educational settings, though the order does not specify its impact on school policies.
Trump’s representatives noted that the announcement coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, framing it as a resurgence of the idea that all Americans should be judged by their character, not skin color. He echoed these sentiments in his inauguration speech, emphasizing a collective effort to realize Dr. King’s dream of a society built on merit rather than race.
Critics of the executive orders, such as Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, labeled these actions as regressive, proclaiming that they represent a setback for civil rights efforts. Wiley remarked that reversing decades of progress in civil rights is akin to transforming Dr. King’s hopeful vision into a nightmare.
The DEI initiatives were primarily created to cultivate fair environments across businesses and educational institutions, particularly for historically marginalized groups. While the roots of DEI efforts can be traced back to the 1960s, their scope expanded significantly in 2020 alongside intensified calls for racial equality. Following the 2024 election, several major businesses, including Walmart, McDonald’s, and Meta, have already rolled back their diversity initiatives as political sentiments shift.
