Shortly after his inauguration, US President Donald Trump signed executive orders to alter the government’s approach to gender and diversity, fulfilling commitments made during his campaign.
The Biden administration has reversed orders that the Trump White House characterised as “unpopular, inflationary, illegal, and radical practices within every agency and office of the Federal Government.”
Among the orders he revoked were two significant directives from the Biden administration, one of which focused on preventing discrimination related to gender identity and sexual orientation.
Trump has signed an order that officially recognises only two genders, male and female, stating that these designations are immutable.
In a significant declaration during his inaugural address on Monday, Trump announced, “As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”
Trump has issued broader commitments regarding what conservatives criticise as a “woke” culture, as well as issues surrounding gender and diversity, including equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
He also revoked another directive to promote racial equity and support underserved communities.
An administration official announced that one of the forthcoming orders would “terminate DEI within the federal government,” resulting in the cessation of funding for DEI programs across all agencies and initiating a review of renamed offices due to DEI initiatives.
In the wake of Trump’s election, numerous major US corporations, such as McDonald’s, Walmart, and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, have either terminated or reduced the scope of their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Companies such as Apple and retailers Target and Costco have publicly supported their current programs.
Proponents of DEI initiatives view these programs as essential measures to address and rectify ongoing discrimination related to race, sexuality, and various other attributes.
The concept gained fresh scrutiny following the racial justice demonstrations that erupted after George Floyd’s murder in 2020.
The landscape surrounding diversity programs has undergone significant changes since 2023, following the US Supreme Court ruling that prohibited universities from factoring an applicant’s race into their admissions decisions.
The policy, referred to as affirmative action, aimed to address longstanding racial and ethnic inequalities in higher education.
The resurgence of Trump in the political arena has been met with increasing backlash from right-wing factions and religious conservatives regarding the advancement of transgender rights across the United States.
During the 2024 campaign, Trump maintained a conventional perspective on gender, while he and his supporters criticised Democrats for their backing of transgender rights.
Project 47, the designated policy framework for the Trump campaign, has pledged to eliminate federal funding for what it terms “radical gender ideology” and to address “inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content” aimed at children.
He has expressed concerns regarding policies permitting transgender athletes—ranging from school-age competitors to college and professional players—to participate on teams that correspond with their gender identity, contending that this may negatively impact women’s sports programs.
Trump and his Republican allies have advocated for prohibiting specific medical treatments for transgender minors.
In a striking political advertisement, former President Trump asserted that his opponent, Kamala Harris, was “for they/them,” contrasting this with his stance of being “for you.”
The recent order recognising only two official genders may have significant consequences across various sectors. Health experts in the United States and around the world have expressed concerns that targeting individuals based on their gender identity or expression may pose risks to both physical and mental health.
The World Health Organisation has issued a warning regarding the detrimental impact of rigid gender norms on individuals with diverse gender identities. These individuals frequently encounter violence, stigma, and discrimination, particularly within healthcare environments.
On Monday, Trump enacted a new executive order focused on the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organisation.
