A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration’s order to issue passports with gender assigned at birth likely violates constitutional rights by discriminating on the basis of sex. The decision blocks the implementation of the policy, which aimed to restrict gender-neutral passport options. The ruling comes as part of ongoing legal battles over transgender rights and government policies on gender identity.
The judge’s order, issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, cited the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The court found that the policy, which required all passports to list gender as assigned at birth, could lead to discrimination against transgender individuals and others who do not conform to traditional gender norms.
Legal experts have hailed the decision as a significant victory for civil liberties and transgender rights. The ruling is expected to have long-term implications for government policies on gender identity and the rights of transgender citizens. The case underscores the growing legal and political tensions surrounding gender issues in the United States.