In a sweeping policy shift, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order stating that the US government will officially recognise “only two genders, male and female.” As a result, the White House has confirmed that the “X” gender marker—introduced under former President Joe Biden’s administration for non-binary and trans individuals—will be removed from passports and other government-issued IDs.
The order mandates that all official identification, including passports, visas, and Global Entry cards, must reflect a person’s biological sex as assigned at birth. The US State Department has since confirmed has since confirmed this move.
Although the executive order does not invalidate existing passports with an “X” gender marker, individuals renewing their documents will now be required to list their biological sex. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasised this point, saying, “They can still apply to renew their passport — they just have to use their God-given sex, which was decided at birth.”
The policy reversal is expected to impact thousands of non-binary Americans. The Williams Institute at UCLA estimates that approximately 16,700 non-binary people apply for a passport with an “X” marker yearly. While many celebrated the option as a step toward dignity and respect, some travellers remained hesitant to use it due to concerns about discrimination or issues when booking flights.
As the policy takes effect, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have expressed concern about its implications for trans and non-binary individuals navigating international travel and identity recognition within the US.