The Trump administration is forcing airlines to ignore valid “X” gender markers on U.S. passports, creating unprecedented chaos where government agents must now guess passengers’ gender to comply with new federal mandates that reject the very documents America issued.
Story Highlights
- Federal system now rejects “X” gender codes on passports the U.S. government previously issued as valid
- Airlines forced to guess passenger gender or face operational delays and compliance penalties
- Trump’s Executive Order 14168 mandates only male/female recognition, reversing Biden-era policies
- Court injunction provides limited protection while legal battles continue at Supreme Court level
Trump Administration Restores Biological Reality to Federal Documents
President Trump’s Executive Order 14168, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” mandated that all federal identification documents recognize only biological sex as male or female. Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately implemented this directive, suspending passport changes and eliminating the “X” gender marker that the Biden administration had introduced for nonbinary individuals.
Airlines Caught in Federal Policy Contradiction
The Advance Passenger Information System now rejects any gender code other than M or F, creating an absurd situation where airlines must guess the gender of passengers holding valid U.S. passports with “X” markers. This unprecedented scenario forces private companies to override official government documents to comply with federal data requirements, exposing them to potential discrimination lawsuits and operational bottlenecks.
Legal Challenges Create Patchwork of Enforcement
U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick issued a preliminary injunction in Orr v. Trump, temporarily protecting some individuals’ right to self-select gender markers on passports. However, reports indicate the State Department continues denying applications despite the court order. The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to pause this injunction, seeking to fully enforce the binary gender policy nationwide.
Aviation Industry Faces Operational Chaos Without Clear Guidance
Customs and Border Protection has provided no comprehensive guidance for airlines handling batch submissions with “X” markers, leaving the industry to navigate conflicting federal requirements. Airlines risk compliance failures, fines, and reputational damage while trying to balance federal mandates against valid passport documentation. The lack of clear operational procedures creates unnecessary bureaucratic confusion that ultimately burdens both travelers and the aviation sector.
This policy represents a crucial step toward ending the gender ideology extremism that infiltrated federal agencies under the previous administration. By restoring recognition of biological reality, the Trump administration is protecting women’s rights and ensuring government documents reflect scientific truth rather than ideological preferences that ignore fundamental biological differences.
Sources:
USA Flights: New APIS transmission rules on gender codes and American passport number formats
