As part of the many changes Donald Trump is enacting, the U.S. State Department has recently announced that it will no longer process passport applications that include the gender marker “X,” resulting in passports only being issued to individuals identifying as male or female.
The decision aligns with Trump’s new executive order that declares the U.S. government “recognize two sexes, male and female.” The move not only suspends the processing of new applications that feature the “X” marker but also halts the issue of the passports altogether.
“In line with that Order, the Department’s issuance of U.S. passports will reflect the individual’s biological sex as defined in the Executive Order,” a State Department spokesperson said.
This new policy marks a significant change that was made under Joe Biden’s administration. Starting in April 2022, American citizens were allowed to select “X” as a gender on passports. The changes were put in place to accommodate non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming individuals.
Nonetheless, Trump’s executive order not only reverses this policy but also calls for a shift in the federal government. In fact, the new order requires all government agencies to replace the word “gender” with “sex,” which is defined as “an individual’s immutable biological classification.” Additionally, all federal documents, including passports, visas, Global Entry cards, and employee records, must show this updated classification.
The policy change doesn’t come as a surprise since Trump previously promised to halt funding for all gender-affirming care. During his campaign run, Trump proposed stopping hospitals and healthcare providers from offering gender-affirming care to minors. But as the State Department adjusts to these updates, individuals with passports that feature the “X” gender marker are currently awaiting further directions and guidance with the new change.
