The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on February 19 that it has updated its official definitions of terms such as “sex,” “female,” and “male,” in accordance with President Donald Trump’s executive orders aimed at limiting transgender rights.
The new guidance underscores the Trump administration’s position that there are only two sexes—male and female—and that these cannot be altered. This move marks one of the first significant actions by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after his confirmation as Secretary of Health and Human Services last week.
Kennedy commented, “This administration is bringing back common sense and restoring biological truth to the federal government.” He further stated that the previous administration’s efforts to integrate gender ideology into public policy are now over.
The revised definitions reflect Trump’s broader agenda to end what he describes as government-endorsed “gender ideology,” a term frequently used by conservative groups to critique views that challenge traditional understandings of sex and gender. Critics argue that the term is an anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, often dehumanizing in its implications.
Transgender rights have become a divisive issue in American politics. In the lead-up to the November elections, several Republican candidates campaigned on reversing laws that protect transgender individuals’ rights.
On his first day in office, Trump signed a series of executive orders to dismantle policies that promoted racial equity and LGBTQ+ protections, further intensifying the national debate over transgender rights.
The new guidance from HHS defines “female” as “a person of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing eggs” and “male” as “a person of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing sperm.” It also states that a person’s sex is determined genetically at conception and is observable before birth.
Additionally, the HHS indicated it was complying with another of Trump’s executive orders to prevent what it described as “chemical and surgical mutilation” of children, a reference to gender-affirming treatments such as puberty-blocking medications, hormones, and surgeries. While the guidance did not specify the actions being taken, a federal judge has temporarily blocked the enforcement of this order.
The decision continues the Trump administration’s controversial stance on transgender issues and is expected to face further legal challenges.
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