Donald Trump has taken steps to revise the U.S. government’s policies on gender and diversity, fulfilling commitments he made during his campaign.
“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 during his inaugural address.
The Trump administration indicated he would sign an executive order Monday that would recognize two sexes only – male and female – and declare that they cannot be changed.
The initiative is part of Trump’s broader agenda targeting what conservatives criticize as “woke” culture, along with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
An administration official announced that an executive order would “eliminate DEI within the federal government,” cutting funding for such programs across all agencies and reviewing offices renamed due to DEI initiatives.
The administration has not clarified whether this action will extend to the private sector, with an official advising businesses to “wait and see.”
Since Trump’s election, several major U.S. companies, including McDonald’s, Walmart, and Facebook’s parent company Meta, have reduced or discontinued their DEI programs.
In contrast, companies like Apple, Target, and Costco have publicly reaffirmed their commitment to these initiatives.
Proponents of DEI argue that these programs aim to address persistent discrimination based on race, sexuality, and other factors.
The concept gained renewed focus following the racial justice protests sparked by George Floyd’s murder in 2020.