The United States has halted the issuance of passports with a gender-neutral “X” option, the State Department announced, following an executive order by President Donald Trump that limits government recognition of transgender identity.
This move reverses a policy introduced under President Joe Biden’s administration and leaves many individuals uncertain about the status of their pending applications and already issued passports with the “X” marker.
On Monday, shortly after taking office, Trump signed an executive order mandating that federal agencies only provide the options of male or female when recording gender. This directive was part of a broader effort to quickly undo several policies put in place by the previous administration.
“In line with that order, the Department’s issuance of US passports will reflect an individual’s biological sex as defined in the Executive Order,” a State Department spokesperson said on Friday evening.
The spokesperson confirmed that the department “is no longer issuing US passports with X markers” and has “suspended processing of all applications seeking a different sex marker than those defined by the terms in the Executive Order.” They added that further guidance regarding previously issued “X” passports will be provided soon, with updates available on the department’s travel website.
The State Department first issued a passport with the “X” designation in October 2021, following a lengthy legal battle by a Colorado resident who is intersex. By early 2022, the department had begun regular processing of “X” passports.
While the department has not disclosed specific figures for how many individuals have requested or received “X” passports, a study by UCLA Law School’s Williams Institute estimated that over 16,000 people would apply for one annually.
During his campaign, Trump criticized transgender policies—particularly those related to women’s sports and medical care for children—positioning them as part of his broader opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
On Monday, Trump also ordered a suspension of federal DEI programs, anti-discrimination policies, and recognition of transgender identities, sparking backlash from rights groups and creating significant legal uncertainty. These actions are likely to face legal challenges.
In many states, driver’s licenses are available with a gender-neutral “X” option, and several countries, including Australia, Canada, and Germany, have similar practices.
