DHS suspends approval of applications with ‘X’ gender marker
The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Immigration Services have announced a new policy that will impact how applications with an “X” marker for gender are processed. In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, officials were advised not to make final decisions on any applications that would result in a document with an “X” marker. This directive comes as a result of President Donald Trump’s executive order on January 20, which prohibits the use of the “X” marker on official documentation and in government systems.
“This decision is in line with President Trump’s executive order that acknowledges only two sexes, male and female,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin. “It’s a matter of common sense.”
The Executive Order signed by President Trump on his first day in office aimed to change the language used in federal government documentation, including replacing the term “gender” with “sex” on official documents. The order emphasized the importance of basing federal policy on truth and the validity of the American system.
This new policy also reverses changes made during the Biden administration, which allowed individuals who do not identify with either male or female to mark documents such as passports with an “X” instead of specifying their gender. Trump’s order now requires all federal agencies to ensure that documents accurately reflect the holder’s sex, defined as “an individual’s immutable biological classification.”
The move has sparked debates on the impact of language and policy changes on various aspects of society, including women’s rights, scientific inquiry, public safety, morale, and trust in government. Critics argue that the erasure of sex in language and policy could have negative consequences on the American system as a whole.
As the new policy takes effect, employees at DHS and USCIS will need to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Executive Order. This shift in processing applications with an “X” marker for gender reflects the Trump administration’s stance on recognizing only two biological sexes, male and female.
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