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Since 2025, which family and gender rules changed, and which did courts block?

Research question: Which family and gender-related policy changes from the plan have federal agencies carried out since January 2025, and which have been blocked in court?

Federal agencies have carried out several changes, including Executive Order 14187 on not funding gender-affirming medical interventions for people under 19 329, and the June 2025 marketplace rule that bars individual and small group plans from covering sex-trait modification as an essential health benefit starting with Plan Year 2026 6. The Department of Labor formally rescinded its 2022 Section 188 interpretation on January 8, 2026 19, and the FDA 10, HUD 35, and ATF 36 have proposed rules that would replace gender terminology with sex, though these are not yet finalized. Courts have blocked a military ban on transgender service members 11 and vacated the gender-identity provisions of the 2024 Section 1557 rule on October 22, 2025 14, while the Supreme Court allowed the passport sex-marker policy to proceed while cases continued 26. The newest fact is dated August 13, 2026 4, roughly two months before October 2026, and the records do not show the current status of every challenge.

Checked 2026-10-18. Only documented and supported facts are used.
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Sources

[1] supported
A January 21, 2025 Guardian article reported that Trump rolled back transgender and gender-identity rights and targeted DEI.
"Trump rolls back trans and gender-identity rights and takes aim at DEI"
Project 2025
[2] supported
Since taking office, Trump has stepped away from policies aimed at improving outcomes for nonwhite job candidates, one of the central proposals of Project 2025.
"stepping away from policies aimed at improving outcomes for nonwhite job candidates."
Over Half of Project 2025 Now in Place, Heritage Foundation Says
[3] documented
President Trump issued Executive Order 14187, Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation, on January 28, 2025.
"On January 28, 2025, President Trump issued E.O. 14187, Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation."
Medicaid Program; Prohibition on Federal Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program Funding for Sex-Rejecting Procedures Furnished to Children (Health and Human Services Department, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2025-12-19)
[4] supported
A later OPM letter removed the age limit from the earlier federal employee health benefits prohibition and advised that for Plan Year 2026, chemical and surgical modification of an individual's sex trait was not covered.
"That letter was amended by letter 2015-01B, issued on August 15, 2025, which eliminated the age limit"
Medicaid Program; Prohibition on Federal Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program Funding for Sex-Rejecting Procedures Furnished to Children (Health and Human Services Department, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2026-08-13)
[5] documented
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management issued a letter on January 31, 2025 that prohibited coverage of certain surgeries and hormone treatments under the federal employee health program.
"In addition, on January 31, 2025, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management issued letter 2025-01A, which prohibited coverage of certain surgeries and hormone treatme"
Medicaid Program; Prohibition on Federal Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program Funding for Sex-Rejecting Procedures Furnished to Children (Health and Human Services Department, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2025-12-19)
[6] supported
The June 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability rule bars individual and small group market issuers from covering specified sex-trait modification procedures as an essential health benefit beginning with Plan Year 2026.
"which prohibits issuers of non-grandfathered individual and small group market health insurance coverage--that is, issuers of coverage subject to the essential health benefit (EHB) requirements--from providing coverage for ``specified sex-trait modification procedures'' as an EHB beginning with Plan Year 2026."
Medicaid Program; Prohibition on Federal Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program Funding for Sex-Rejecting Procedures Furnished to Children (Health and Human Services Department, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2026-08-13)
[7] documented
Executive Order 14168, issued January 20, 2025, requires executive agencies to use the term "sex" rather than "gender" when administering or enforcing sex-based distinctions in federal policies and documents.
"On January 20, 2025, the President issued E.O. 14168, ``Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,'' which, among other things, requires executive agencies to use the term ``sex'' and not ``gender'' when administering or enforcing sex-based distinctions, in all applicable Federal policies and documents."
Modification of Certain Terminology in Title 21 (Health and Human Services Department, Food and Drug Administration, 2026-05-06)
[8] supported
A January 28, 2025 White House executive order was titled 'Protecting Children' from chemical and surgical 'mutilation'.
"Executive Order: Protecting Children for Chemical and Surgical Mutilation"
Project 2025
[9] supported
CMS issued a final rule on June 20, 2025 that bars individual and small group marketplace health plans from covering sex-trait modification procedures as an essential health benefit starting with Plan Year 2026.
"On June 20, 2025, we issued the ``Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Marketplace Integrity and Affordability,'' final rule (90 FR 27074)"
Medicaid Program; Prohibition on Federal Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program Funding for Sex-Rejecting Procedures Furnished to Children (Health and Human Services Department, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2025-12-19)
[10] supported
The FDA's proposed rule, if finalized, would remove the word "gender" from Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations and replace it with "sex" or delete it, to comply with the executive order.
"Specifically, this proposed rule, if finalized, will remove the term ``gender'' wherever it appears and either replace it with the term ``sex,'' or delete reference to gender, as applicable, along with other editorial changes to improve readability."
Modification of Certain Terminology in Title 21 (Health and Human Services Department, Food and Drug Administration, 2026-05-06)
[11] supported
A U.S. judge blocked Trump's ban on transgender people serving in the military.
"US judge blocks Trump's ban on trans people serving in the military"
Project 2025
[12] supported
OPM amended its January guidance with a further letter on August 15, 2025 covering chemical and surgical sex-trait modification services for Plan Year 2026.
"Letter Number 2025-01B, ``Subject: Chemical and Surgical Sex-Trait Modification Services for Plan Year 2026 Proposals,'' August 15, 2025"
Medicaid Program; Prohibition on Federal Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program Funding for Sex-Rejecting Procedures Furnished to Children (Health and Human Services Department, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2025-12-19)
[13] supported
A USA Today article identified gender-related actions among the ways Project 2025 proposals were appearing in Trump's early actions.
"Gender, hiring, foreign aid: 3 ways Project 2025 is turning up in Trump's actions"
Project 2025
[14] supported
On October 22, 2025, a federal court in Mississippi vacated the parts of the 2024 Section 1557 rule that expanded Title IX's definition of sex discrimination to include gender-identity discrimination.
"Specifically, the court vacated certain provisions of the regulation to the extent they expand Title IX's definition of sex discrimination to include gender-identity discrimination."
Notice of Vacatur Regarding Certain Provisions of the 2024 Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities Final Rule (Health and Human Services Department, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2026-06-02)
[15] documented
The State Department's final rule adds a foreign assistance award term that requires recipients to comply with restrictions relating to gender ideology.
"Accordingly, under this rule the Department of State will defend the rights of women and children, and protect freedom of conscience and national sovereignty, by requiring recipients of foreign assistance to comply with certain restrictions relating to gender ideology."
Combating Gender Ideology in Foreign Assistance (State Department, 2026-01-27)
[16] documented
The Department of Labor rescinded its 2022 guidance that read 'sex' in WIOA Section 188 to cover transgender status and gender identity.
"The Department of Labor now rescinds this guidance because later court cases found that the term ``sex'', as it is used in the context of education funding in Title IX, does not include transgender status or gender identity"
Notification of Rescission of the 2022 Interpretation of Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Labor Department, 2026-01-08)
[17] supported
Federal health agencies (OCR and CMS) said they cannot and will not enforce the vacated gender-identity provisions while the vacatur remains in effect.
"OCR and CMS cannot and will not enforce the vacated provisions."
Notice of Vacatur Regarding Certain Provisions of the 2024 Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities Final Rule (Health and Human Services Department, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2026-06-02)
[18] documented
The rule cites Executive Order 14168, signed January 20, 2025, titled 'Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,' as a basis for the policy.
"Executive Order 14168 of January 20, 2025, Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government"
Combating Gender Ideology in Foreign Assistance (State Department, 2026-01-27)
[19] documented
The Department of Labor formally stated that it was rescinding the 2022 interpretation of Section 188.
"Accordingly, the Department rescinds the 2022 interpretation."
Notification of Rescission of the 2022 Interpretation of Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Labor Department, 2026-01-08)
[20] supported
The court issued a declaratory judgment that HHS exceeded its statutory authority by interpreting Title IX to prohibit gender-identity discrimination and by implementing gender-identity and 'gender affirming care' regulations.
"HHS exceeded its statutory authority when (1) it interpreted Title IX, as incorporated into Section 1557, to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and (2) when it implemented Section 1557 regulations concerning gender identity and `gender affirming care.'"
Notice of Vacatur Regarding Certain Provisions of the 2024 Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities Final Rule (Health and Human Services Department, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2026-06-02)
[21] documented
The rule also cites Executive Order 14190, signed January 29, 2025, 'Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,' among the executive actions it relies on.
"Executive Order 14190 of January 29, 2025, Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling"
Combating Gender Ideology in Foreign Assistance (State Department, 2026-01-27)
[22] documented
Only the gender-identity provisions were struck down; the other provisions of the Section 1557 rule remain in force.
"The other provisions of the Section 1557 Rule remain in force."
Notice of Vacatur Regarding Certain Provisions of the 2024 Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities Final Rule (Health and Human Services Department, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2026-06-02)
[23] documented
The Department of Education issued a Title IX rule in April 2024 that defined discrimination on the basis of sex to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
"Then, in April 2024, the Department of Education promulgated a comprehensive Title IX rule redefining prohibited ``discrimination on the basis of sex'' to include ``discrimination on the basis of sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity.''"
Notification of Rescission of the 2022 Interpretation of Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Labor Department, 2026-01-08)
[24] supported
Courts that reviewed challenges to the Education Department's Title IX rule found it exceeded statutory authority and enjoined it.
"These courts found that the Department of Education's rule exceeded statutory authority because Title IX's text, history, and structure establish that ``sex'' refers to the biological distinction between male and female."
Notification of Rescission of the 2022 Interpretation of Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Labor Department, 2026-01-08)
[25] supported
The Office of Personnel Management issued initial guidance to federal agencies on January 29, 2025, directing them to end programs that promote or reflect 'gender ideology' under Executive Order 14168.
"On January 29, 2025, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued initial guidance to agencies regarding Executive Order 14168, including directions to end programs that "promote or reflect gender ideology" as defined by the order."
Sexual and reproductive health policy of the second Trump administration
[26] supported
Litigation over the passport sex-marker policy produced a sequence of district court injunctions, and the Supreme Court then issued an order allowing the policy to be implemented while cases continued.
"described a sequence of district court injunctions and a Supreme Court order allowing implementation of the administration's passport sex-marker policy while cases continued."
Sexual and reproductive health policy of the second Trump administration
[27] documented
On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14168 on defending women from gender ideology extremism.
"On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14168, titled ``Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.''"
Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Revisions (Housing and Urban Development Department, 2026-04-28)
[28] documented
On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14168 on defending women from gender ideology extremism and restoring biological truth to the federal government.
"On January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 14168, Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government"
Selecting Biological Sex on ATF Forms (Justice Department, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau, 2026-05-06)
[29] supported
Executive Order 14187 stated a policy of not funding or supporting gender-affirming medical interventions for people under age 19.
"which stated a policy of not funding or supporting gender-affirming medical interventions for people under age 19 and directed agency actions to implement that policy to the extent permitted by law."
Sexual and reproductive health policy of the second Trump administration
[30] supported
A US judge blocked Trump's ban on transgender people serving in the military, as reported by The Guardian and the Associated Press on March 18, 2025.
""US judge blocks Trump's ban on trans people serving in the"
Persecution of transgender people under the second Trump administration
[31] documented
Section 4(b) of the executive order directs HUD to prepare rulemaking to rescind the 2016 Equal Access rule.
"Section 4(b) of the Executive Order directs HUD to prepare rulemaking to rescind the 2016 Rule."
Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Revisions (Housing and Urban Development Department, 2026-04-28)
[32] supported
ATF proposed a rule to resolve confusion about how to fill out ATF forms, citing Executive Order 14168 as the basis.
"ATF proposes a rule to resolve any potential confusion on how to fill out ATF forms."
Selecting Biological Sex on ATF Forms (Justice Department, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau, 2026-05-06)
[33] supported
In June 2025, HHS told states and territories to remove 'gender ideology' content from certain federally funded sex-education materials and programs.
"In June 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stated that it put states and territories on notice to remove "gender ideology" content from certain federally funded sex-education materials and programs"
Sexual and reproductive health policy of the second Trump administration
[34] supported
Trump signed an executive order in January 2025 to defund schools teaching critical race theory and 'radical gender ideology'.
"Trump signs executive order to defund schools teaching CRT, 'radical gender ideology' "
Persecution of transgender people under the second Trump administration
[35] supported
HUD has proposed removing the definition of and all references to 'gender identity' and 'gender' from its regulations, replacing them with 'sex'.
"HUD has reconsidered the 2012 and 2016 Equal Access rules and is proposing that the definition of and all references to ``gender identity'' and ``gender'' be removed throughout HUD's regulations"
Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Revisions (Housing and Urban Development Department, 2026-04-28)
[36] documented
The proposed ATF rule would make clear that ATF seeks biological sex on its forms, not gender identity.
"The rule would make clear that ATF seeks biological sex, consistent with the ordinary meaning of the regulatory language."
Selecting Biological Sex on ATF Forms (Justice Department, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau, 2026-05-06)
[37] supported
Trump signed a January 2025 executive order described as protecting children from 'chemical and surgical gender mutilation'.
"Trump Signs Executive Order Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Gender Mutilation"
Persecution of transgender people under the second Trump administration
[38] documented
The proposed HUD rule would harmonize Equal Access regulations with the executive order, which is a proposal and not yet a finalized change.
"This proposed rule would harmonize HUD's existing Equal Access regulations with the directions of the Executive Order"
Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Revisions (Housing and Urban Development Department, 2026-04-28)
[39] supported
The US Air Force announced it would deny retirement pay to transgender service members being separated from the service.
"US Air Force to deny retirement pay to transgender service members being separated from the service"
Persecution of transgender people under the second Trump administration
[40] supported
The Trump administration threatened to pull federal funding from sex education programs that mention transgender people.
"Trump administration threatens to pull federal funding from sex ed programs that mention transgender people"
Persecution of transgender people under the second Trump administration