The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have been instructed to halt the processing of applications containing an "X" gender marker. This directive, communicated through an internal letter obtained by Fox News Digital, aligns with a January 20th executive order from President Trump that prohibits the use of the "X" marker on official documentation and within federal systems.
DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Tricia McLaughlin, clarified to Fox News Digital that this decision stems from President Trump's executive order recognizing only male and female as sexes. She characterized the move as "common sense."
President Donald Trump displays a signed executive order at a presidential inauguration event in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
This action follows an executive order signed by President Trump on his first day in office, aiming to revise the language employed by the federal government in official documents. A key element of this order involves replacing the term "gender" with "sex."
The executive order emphasizes the importance of grounding federal policy in biological realities. It states that disregarding biological sex in language and policy negatively impacts not only women but also the credibility of the American system as a whole. It further stresses the crucial role of truth in scientific inquiry, public safety, morale, and public trust in government.
President Donald Trump addresses a Republican National Committee donor retreat in Palm Beach, Florida, on May 4, 2024. (Donald Trump 2024 campaign)
This decision reverses changes implemented during the Biden administration, which allowed individuals who do not identify with either male or female to select an "X" marker on documents like passports. President Trump's order mandates that all federal agencies ensure documents accurately reflect an individual's "immutable biological classification" as male or female.
A United States passport in Lafayette, California, on May 23, 2023. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
