In a decisive move to reaffirm biological reality, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ended the option for Americans to select “X” as a gender marker on U.S. passports. The policy shift follows an executive order signed by President Trump on Monday, declaring it the official stance of the United States to recognize only two sexes: male and female.
The State Department informed its staff of the new directive through an internal cable on Thursday. The guidance mandates that “sex, and not gender, shall be used” in official documents such as passports and birth records issued by U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. Staff were explicitly instructed to “suspend any application requesting an X sex marker” and to “suspend any application where the applicant is seeking to change their sex marker.”
While previously issued passports with the “X” marker will not be recalled, individuals renewing their travel documents will no longer have the option to select anything other than male or female. Rubio’s directive added that further instructions regarding existing “X” passports would be provided through additional channels.
President Trump’s executive order is a sharp departure from the progressive policies of the Biden administration. The order asserts that “sexes are not changeable” and defines sex strictly as an “immutable biological classification as either male or female.” Furthermore, the document states that “‘sex’ is not a synonym for and does not include the concept of ‘gender identity.’”
This decision represents a return to traditional values and a rejection of the gender ideology that had been embraced under the previous administration. Trump’s move underscores his commitment to prioritizing biological reality over activist-driven narratives.
The option for an “X” gender marker was introduced under former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who implemented the policy on April 11, 2022. At the time, Blinken hailed the decision as a “milestone” for inclusivity, allowing non-binary, intersex, and gender-nonconforming individuals to identify as such on official documents without additional documentation.
Blinken’s policy was part of a broader effort by federal agencies, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, to accommodate the preferences of gender-nonconforming Americans. However, critics argued that such policies undermined scientific truths and created unnecessary confusion in government documentation.
The rollback of the “X” marker aligns with the Trump administration’s broader agenda to restore clarity and consistency to U.S. policies. Secretary Rubio’s leadership at the State Department ensures that official documents reflect biological truths, not ideological fads.
This policy change has already drawn praise from conservative voices who see it as a victory for common sense and the rule of law. By rejecting the ambiguous “X” designation, the Trump administration is standing firm on the principle that government records should reflect objective realities, not subjective self-identifications.
President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s actions send a strong message: America will not bow to the radical left’s attempts to erase biological distinctions. Instead, this administration is committed to upholding the values of truth, order, and tradition—principles that resonate with millions of Americans who have grown weary of woke overreach.
As this policy takes effect, it’s clear that the Trump administration remains focused on delivering promises and pushing back against the ideological drift of recent years. For conservatives, this is another step toward restoring the America they believe in—one built on unwavering truths and enduring values.