The Trump administration has directed federal agencies to remove references to “gender ideology” from contracts, job descriptions, and social media accounts, in accordance with a new executive order recognising only two sexes.
A memo issued Wednesday by the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) outlines steps for agencies to comply with President Donald Trump’s directive, which mandates that “women are biologically female, and men are biologically male.”
The move is part of a broader effort by Trump to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, a stance that has drawn criticism from rights advocates.
Critics warn that the administration’s actions could erode protections for LGBTQ+ individuals and roll back progress on gender inclusivity.
“Funds will not be used to promote ‘gender ideology,’” Trump said last week, using a term frequently employed by conservative groups to challenge non-traditional views on sex and gender. Rights activists argue that the phrase serves as an anti-LGBTQ+ trope and contributes to dehumanisation.
In addition to removing language related to gender ideology, the Trump administration is moving to restrict the impact of a landmark 2020 US Supreme Court ruling that extended civil rights protections against discrimination “on the basis of sex” to include sexuality and gender identity.
The new directive requires agencies to review job descriptions and place on leave any employee “whose position description involves inculcating or promoting gender ideology,” according to the OPM memo.
Federal agencies must also remove any web content or social media posts that promote gender ideology and ensure that “intimate spaces” such as restrooms and locker rooms “are designated by biological sex and not gender identity.”
On Tuesday, Trump further expanded these restrictions by ordering an end to all federal funding or support for healthcare services that aid the transition of transgender youth. This follows an earlier executive order banning transgender individuals from serving in the US military.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced on Wednesday via a post on X that 85 DEI-related contracts, totaling approximately $1 billion, had been terminated across various federal departments and agencies. However, it did not provide a detailed breakdown of the affected contracts.