The U.S. State Department has suspended the processing of passport applications featuring the nonbinary “X” gender marker following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, according to reports.
The executive order, titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” asserts that the U.S. recognizes only two sexes—male and female—described as “immutable biological realities.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an internal directive obtained by The Guardian, instructed department staff to comply with the new policy, stating: “The policy of the United States is that an individual’s sex is not changeable.”
The order requires all federal identification documents, including passports, visas, and entry cards, to reflect an individual’s biological classification as either male or female. As a result, the State Department has been instructed to suspend applications requesting the “X” gender marker or changes to existing gender markers that do not align with the sex assigned at birth.
The NOTUS news site, citing the White House, reported that the order will not retroactively invalidate existing passports with the “X” gender marker, but renewals will require the designation to align with the applicant’s birth-assigned sex.
This policy reverses a milestone decision from April 2022, when the State Department first issued passports with the “X” gender marker, enabling nonbinary, intersex, and gender-nonconforming individuals to reflect their identities accurately.
Anadolu Agency reached out to the State Department for comment but has not received an immediate response. Critics argue that the policy rollback undermines LGBTQ+ rights, sparking debates about federal recognition of gender identity and inclusivity in government policies.
