On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President Donald Trump signed executive orders rolling back protections for transgender individuals and terminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within federal agencies. He framed the moves as efforts to end what he called “socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.”

“As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders – male and female,” Trump said.

Problems for Transgender

Transgender rights have become a contentious political topic in the United States in recent years. In the last election campaign, many Republicans batted on reversing transgender laws with a particular focus on transgender women participating in sports.

Under this executive order, gender is binary and consists only of two hardwired sexes, male or female, not based on chromosomal structure but anatomy. This mandate will impact prisons, shelters, and other state and federal government-funded healthcare providers. Federal Medicaid in some states and federal prisons will no longer cover hormone therapies or surgeries intended to transition to a “gender extremism” by the client.

The order also rescinds requirements that government facilities and workplaces use pronouns aligned with an individual’s gender identity. Trump officials argue that such mandates violate First Amendment rights. However, the order does not extend to regulating restroom usage or sports participation, leaving those decisions to state laws.

A 2022 study by the Williams Institute indicates that transgender individuals in the U.S. stand at an estimated 1.6 million. Most of them encounter various problems such as housing and employment discrimination. Approximately 15% of transgender individuals have contemplated emigration from the U.S. because of repressive policies.

DEI Programs Canceled

In a separate order, Trump dismantled federal DEI initiatives, fulfilling a campaign promise to eliminate what he calls unconstitutional preferences based on race, gender, and sexual orientation. Federal DEI programs aimed to create equitable environments in workplaces and schools, particularly for historically marginalized communities. Trump’s supporters argue these programs promote division, while opponents believe their removal is a step backward for civil rights.

In his speech, Trump mentioned his vision, saying, “We will forge a society that is colorblind and merit-based.” He further declared that his policies aligned with Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of judging people according to their character rather than color.

Us house already has passes a bill banning trans athletes from competing in women’s school sports.

Reactions and Legal Challenges

Orders have faced stinging opposition from civil rights organizations and medical associations. President of the Human Rights Campaign Kelley Robinson said the administration would “see us in court” while asserting that her group would be battling “harmful provisions.”

Medical professionals, including the American Medical Association, rejected the binary definition of gender, stating that gender is on a spectrum. Maya Wiley, President of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, also decried the move as a rollback of decades of civil rights progress.

Businesses like Walmart and Meta have already rolled back their DEI initiatives since Trump’s election, reflecting a broader shift in corporate policies.

With these orders, Trump has initiated a country-wide debate that will probably influence the political and social profile for a very long time. Civil rights organizations have begun to prepare lawsuits, indicating protracted struggle over these controversial changes.