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- Federal government websites have been taken down or altered following an executive order aimed at “defending women against gender ideology extremism.”
- The order requires agencies to remove information promoting or inculcating “gender ideology” from their websites, contracts, and emails.
- Critical public health data, including HIV surveillance and transgender health resources, has been removed or made inaccessible.
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Quick Brief
2-Minute Digest
Essential Context
On January 31, 2025, several federal government websites experienced disruptions as agencies scrambled to comply with a new executive order. The order, titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” mandates the removal of all content that promotes or inculcates “gender ideology” from federal websites, contracts, and emails.
Core Players
- Donald Trump – President who issued the executive order
- Charles Ezell – Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
- Federal Agencies – Including CDC, Census Bureau, and State Department
- LGBTQ+ Advocacy Groups – Criticizing the order for its impact on transgender and nonbinary individuals
Key Numbers
- January 29, 2025 – Date of the OPM memo instructing agencies to comply with the executive order by January 31, 2025.
- 5:00 p.m. EST, January 31, 2025 – Deadline for agencies to comply with the order.
- 100+ – Number of web pages and resources removed or altered across various federal agencies.
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The Catalyst
The executive order signed by President Trump aims to “defend women from gender ideology extremism” by eradicating the concept of “gender ideology” from federal agencies. This move was triggered by the administration’s belief that such ideologies undermine biological truths and women’s rights.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a memo on January 29, 2025, detailing the steps agencies must take to comply with the order by January 31, 2025.
Inside Forces
Federal agencies have been instructed to review and terminate all programs, contracts, and grants that promote or inculcate “gender ideology.” This includes removing all outward-facing media, such as websites and social media accounts, and revising forms to ask for “sex” instead of “gender.”[5]
Employee resource groups and special emphasis programs that promote “gender ideology” have also been disbanded. Additionally, agencies must ensure that “intimate spaces” are designated by biological sex and not gender identity.
Power Dynamics
The executive order significantly impacts the power dynamics within federal agencies, particularly affecting transgender and nonbinary employees. The order’s directives on single-sex spaces and the use of “sex” instead of “gender” on forms are seen as restrictive measures.
The Office of Personnel Management and other federal agencies now hold the responsibility to enforce these new policies, which has led to concerns about discrimination and the erosion of protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Outside Impact
The removal of public health data and resources has been widely criticized by disease experts and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. The Infectious Diseases Society of America has stated that eliminating these resources creates dangerous gaps in scientific information critical to ending the HIV epidemic.
The State Department has also removed the option for nonbinary applicants to select “X” as a gender on passport applications, replacing it with “sex.”[2]
Future Forces
The implementation of this executive order is expected to face significant legal challenges. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has already begun to comply by removing informational pages related to LGBTQ+ protections, but this move is likely to be contested in court.
Key areas for potential litigation include the enforcement of single-sex spaces and the misapplication of the Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County (2020).
Data Points
- January 29, 2025 – Date of the OPM memo.
- January 31, 2025 – Deadline for agencies to comply with the order.
- 100+ – Number of web pages and resources removed or altered.
- 2024 – Year the EEOC issued Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace, now rescinded by the executive order.
The executive order’s impact extends beyond the removal of online resources, affecting the daily lives of federal employees and the broader public. As the situation unfolds, it is clear that this move will have far-reaching implications for LGBTQ+ rights, public health, and the interpretation of federal civil rights laws.
