The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a significant policy shift Wednesday, releasing official guidance that defines sex as an immutable biological classification of male or female. The move aligns with President Trump’s executive orders aimed at defending women and children, restoring what the administration calls “biological truth” to federal government policies.
The guidance, issued under Executive Order 14168 — “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” — clarifies that HHS will recognize only two sexes: male and female.
The definitions emphasize that women are biologically female and men are biologically male, marking a stark departure from previous policies that acknowledged gender identity beyond biological sex.
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“This administration is bringing back common sense and restoring biological truth to the federal government,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in a statement. “The prior administration’s policy of trying to engineer gender ideology into every aspect of public life is over.”
The guidance defines key terms, including:
- Sex: A person’s immutable biological classification as either male or female.
- Female: A person of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing eggs (ova).
- Male: A person of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing sperm.
- Woman: An adult human female.
- Man: An adult human male.
- Girl: A minor human female.
- Boy: A minor human male.
- Mother: A female parent.
- Father: A male parent.
The announcement also highlighted efforts to protect children from what the administration termed “chemical and surgical mutilation,” as directed by President Trump’s Executive Order 14187. Additionally, HHS reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing policies that keep men out of women’s sports, as outlined in Executive Order 14201.
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“In health care, sex distinctions can influence disease presentation, diagnosis, and treatment differently in females and males,” said Dr. Dorothy Fink, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women’s Health. “HHS recognizes that biological differences between females and males require sex-specific practices in medicine and research to ensure optimal health outcomes.”
HHS’s Office on Women’s Health also launched a new webpage to provide resources and information on sex-based definitions and related policies. The page aims to educate the public on the administration’s efforts to protect women and children, emphasizing the importance of biological distinctions in health care and research.
Riley Gaines, a prominent advocate for women’s sports, praised the administration’s actions in a video released alongside the guidance.
“The executive order ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’ ensures the next generation of girls has a fair opportunity to compete with the safety, privacy, and equal opportunity they’re entitled to,” Gaines said. “The clarity and decisiveness of the Trump administration sends a strong, clear message to women and girls across the country that we matter.”
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