By Sarah Baafi
In a significant policy shift, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders that roll back protections for transgender individuals and eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government. These actions, announced shortly after his inauguration for a second term, reflect campaign promises to reshape federal policies on gender and race and have sparked intense debate across political and social lines.
One of the executive orders establishes that the federal government will recognize only two immutable sees which is male and female. This definition will be based on whether individuals are born with eggs or sperm, rather than on their chromosomes or self-identified gender. Trump described this policy as a means to protect women from what he called “gender extremism.” The order also prohibits the use of federal taxpayer money to fund gender-affirming medical treatments, including hormone therapy and surgeries for transgender individuals.
Under this directive, federal agencies will no longer provide or fund transition-related healthcare services for employees or beneficiaries. This includes halting coverage for gender-affirming surgeries and treatments for federal prison inmates. While Medicaid in some states currently covers such treatments, a Biden-era rule that sought to expand this coverage nationally was previously blocked by court rulings.
The second executive order terminates DEI programs across all federal agencies. These programs, which were introduced under previous administrations to address systemic inequities in hiring and workplace culture, are now deemed unnecessary by the Trump administration. In his inaugural speech, Trump criticized these initiatives as efforts to “socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life,” adding that his administration seeks to “forge a society that is colourblind and merit-based.”
President Trump framed these decisions as a return to what he called “common sense” governance. “We are restoring clarity in our laws,” he said during the signing ceremony. “The federal government will no longer be complicit in advancing radical gender ideologies or divisive racial theories.” He further argued that these measures would protect women’s rights by ensuring spaces like sports teams and restrooms are reserved for biological females.
Trump also took aim at what he described as the misuse of taxpayer funds. “Americans should not be forced to pay for procedures or programs that undermine our values,” he stated. “This is about protecting taxpayers and ensuring fairness in how our resources are used.”
