US halts issuance of passports with gender-neutral marker

The US State Department officially announced the suspension of passport issuance with the gender-neutral marker "X", a move resulting from an executive order by President Donald Trump. This step reverses the provision introduced by the Joe Biden administration and puts the fate of applications submitted requesting this type of passport in question.

The Trump administration's decision

Shortly after taking office, President Trump signed an executive order restricting the recognition of transgender identity at the federal level. According to this document, passports must now indicate only the applicant's biological sex — male or female.

A State Department spokesperson stated:
«Выдача паспортов США будет соответствовать биологическому полу заявителя, как установлено в президентском указе» (The issuance of US passports will correspond to the applicant's biological sex, as established in the presidential executive order).

All applications containing a request for the "X" sex marker were immediately frozen, and no new such passports are being issued.

The history of the "X" marker passport

The first US passport with the "X" designation was issued in October 2021. This was the result of a multi-year legal battle initiated by a resident of Colorado who identifies as intersex. From 2022 onwards, passports with the neutral marker became available on a regular basis.

The State Department has not disclosed data on the number of such passports issued. However, according to research by the Williams Institute, approximately 16,000 people could potentially apply for such documents annually.

Human rights defenders' reaction and uncertainty

Human rights organisations have reacted critically to the Trump administration's decision, pointing to the infringement of the rights of transgender and non-binary citizens. Many of them are left in limbo, awaiting further clarification.

A State Department spokesperson assured that instructions on the use of previously issued passports with the "X" marker would be published on the department's travel website.

International context

Against the backdrop of restrictions in the US, some countries, including Australia, Canada and Germany, continue to provide citizens with the option of obtaining documents with a gender-neutral designation. In the US itself, driver's licences with the "X" marker remain available in a number of states, highlighting the difference in approaches between state and federal government levels.