On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump officially returned to the Oval Office as the 47th President of the United States. Among his first actions was signing a series of executive orders that have quickly sparked national debate. One of the most controversial, titled “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” directly targets policies regarding transgender women in prisons.
The order asserts that recognizing genders beyond male and female undermines women’s rights and poses risks to their safety and dignity. With this rationale, the administration’s directive redefines how the federal government and its institutions address issues of sex and gender, sparking a divisive response across the country.
What the Executive Order States
The executive order declares the Trump administration will only recognize two genders—male and female—stating these biological sexes are “unchangeable” and rooted in “fundamental and incontrovertible reality.” This definition affects numerous policies, including those involving the placement of transgender individuals in correctional facilities.