By Jarrett Renshaw and David Shepardson
(Reuters) -The Trump administration ordered federal agencies to scrub mentions of “gender ideology” in contracts, job descriptions and social media accounts in line with an executive order forcing the government to recognize only two sexes.
A memo issued Wednesday by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management gives guidance on carrying out an executive order by President Donald Trump requiring federal agencies to “recognize women are biologically female, and men are biologically male.”
The actions are part of a broader attack by Trump on diversity, equity and inclusion programs that has drawn criticism from rights advocates who fear that it rolls back progress America has made in embracing these values.
Trump said last week funds will not be used to promote “gender ideology,” a loose term often used by conservative groups to reference any ideology that promotes non-traditional views on sex and gender. Rights activists view the term as an anti-LGBTQ trope and dehumanizing.
The Trump administration will also seek to limit the scope of a major victory for transgender rights under a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in which the high court found civil rights protections against discrimination “on the basis of sex” applied to sexuality and gender identity.
Agencies must review all job descriptions and place on leave any employee “whose position description involves inculcating or promoting gender ideology,” according to the memo.
Agencies are required to scrub web sites and social media accounts that promote gender ideology. It also directed that “intimate spaces” designated for men or women “are designated by biological sex and not gender identity.”
Trump on Tuesday ordered an end to all federal funding or support for healthcare that aids the transition of transgender youth after an earlier order banning transgender people from the armed forces.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) said in a post on X on Wednesday that 85 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility-related contracts totaling around $1 billion at several departments and bodies had been terminated. It did not provide a breakdown of the sums.
DOGE did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for more details.
(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and David Shepardson; additional reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Stephen Coates)
