The Social Security Administration has reportedly discontinued its “Gender X initiative marker” and removed any references to gender ideology from its public applications, a decision that aligns with President Trump’s executive order. This change, announced by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is said to save taxpayers more than $1 million.
Under the new directive, the SSA will only recognize two genders: male and female, effectively reversing policies introduced during the previous administration that allowed for a non-binary “X” gender marker on official documents. These changes reflect a broader initiative by the Trump administration to enforce a binary sex classification in federal documentation.
The move has sparked a variety of reactions. Supporters argue that it simplifies administrative processes and reduces government spending, pointing out the financial savings and the alignment with what they see as biological realities.
The decision comes at a time when the administration has been pushing for policies that emphasize traditional gender roles, including recent executive orders aimed at protecting women’s sports from what they term “unfair competition.” This policy shift is part of a larger agenda to revert changes made under previous administrations regarding gender recognition in federal systems.
While the exact details of how this will affect those with non-binary gender markers on previous documentation remain unclear, it’s evident that this policy shift will require adjustments in how gender is managed within the SSA’s systems. The administration’s focus on fiscal efficiency and what they describe as “restoring biological truth” continues to be a contentious issue, stirring debate on civil rights, government transparency, and the role of federal agencies in personal identity matters.
