Donald Trump’s January executive order, which banned the recognition of non-binary and transgender identities on U.S. passports, quickly ignited fierce debate. The order reasserted a strictly binary view of gender—male and female only—and extended its reach to federal prison policies, barring transgender women from being housed in women’s facilities. This controversial decision reversed a key provision under the Biden administration, which had allowed non-binary individuals to select an ‘X’ gender marker on their passports starting in October 2021. Under Trump’s new policy, individuals were required to list their biological sex on official documents, sparking immediate backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates and directly affecting those impacted by the change.

In a powerful response, the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming that the policy violated constitutional rights and exposed transgender and non-binary individuals to discrimination. Recently, Federal Judge Julia Kobick issued a ruling that temporarily blocked the order, deeming it irrational and a violation of equal protection rights. Her decision has temporarily reinstated the ability for transgender and non-binary individuals to have their gender identity recognized on passports, offering a significant victory for civil rights.