President Trump signed executive orders on Monday that significantly alter protections for transgender individuals and put an end to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across federal government agencies. In his inauguration address, he proclaimed these actions as necessary steps to eliminate what he termed the “social engineering” of race and gender in public and private spheres.
These orders mark substantial shifts in federal policy and align with Trump’s campaign vows. One of the executive orders establishes that the federal government will only recognize two genders: male and female. This definition relies on biological characteristics such as sperm or egg presence, as opposed to chromosomal data. Advocates for this change argue it serves to shield women from what they describe as “gender extremism.”
Organizations like the American Family Association have welcomed this adjustment as a reaffirmation of perceived biological truths. Yet, multiple experts, including those from the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association, argue that gender should be seen as a spectrum rather than a strictly binary classification limited to male and female.
The executive orders also mandate that federal prisons and shelters accommodating migrants or victims of assault must categorize individuals based on the newly defined sex criteria. Furthermore, federal tax dollars will not be utilized for funding gender transition services, which includes surgical procedures and hormone therapy treatments. While some states’ Medicaid programs currently cover such medical services, a recent ruling halted the previous administration’s efforts to broaden coverage nationwide.
Additionally, the orders prohibit mandates in government buildings and workplaces that require using pronouns consistent with an individual’s gender identity. Trump’s administration argues that such requirements infringe upon the First Amendment rights to free speech and religious freedom.
The executive orders do not impose a federal rule regarding restroom usage or sports participation for transgender individuals, though various states have enacted their own legislation on these issues.
Civil rights organizations have signaled their intention to contest Trump’s orders. “We are not going anywhere,” declared Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign, emphasizing their commitment to fight against these “damaging changes” vigorously.
In addition, Trump rescinded protections for transgender individuals serving in the military that were established by former President Biden. Current estimates suggest that there are between 9,000 and 14,000 transgender service members.
Another executive order enacts a suspension of DEI programs within federal agencies. Critics of these initiatives argue that they violate constitutional principles by incorporating race, gender, and sexual orientation into decision-making processes. Trump garnered enthusiastic support at a recent rally when he promised to eliminate DEI mandates in military and educational institutions, although the order does not directly dictate school policies.
Trump’s administration highlighted that the timing of the announcement coinciding with Martin Luther King Jr. Day symbolizes a return to the ideal that Americans should be judged by their character rather than the color of their skin. In his inauguration speech, Trump referenced King’s aspirations, stating, “We will strive together to make his dream a reality. We will make his dream come true,” and later added, “We will forge a society that is colorblind and merit-based.”
However, Maya Wiley, CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, criticized these measures as regressive steps. “Dr. King had a dream, and this is his nightmare: the rollback of the work of our civil and human rights coalition over the past 75 years,” she affirmed in her statement.
The DEI initiatives aimed to create inclusive environments in workplaces and educational settings, especially for historically underrepresented groups. While the concept of DEI tracer its roots back to the 1960s, it saw a resurgence and expansion in 2020 amid a heightened focus on racial justice.
Several major corporations, such as Walmart, McDonald’s, and Meta, have already begun to retract their diversity initiatives since the onset of the 2024 election.
