The United States has stopped issuing passports with a gender-neutral "X" option

The United States has stopped issuing passports with a gender-neutral "X" option after President Donald Trump ordered restrictions on government recognition of transgender identities, the State Department said.

Shortly after taking office, Trump signed an executive order requiring official government policy to recognize only two genders: male and female.

"Pursuant to the order, U.S. passports issued by the Department of State will carry out the gender requirements as defined in the Executive Order," a State Department spokesperson said late Friday.

The State Department will no longer issue U.S. passports with an X gender marker and "suspend the processing of all applications that differ from the gender defined in the executive order," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that a guidance document on previously issued X-gender marked passports is forthcoming.

After a long legal battle initiated by an intersex man in Colorado, the State Department issued the first passport with the X-gender marker in October 2021.

The State Department has not released figures on how many people apply for or issue "X" passports, but a study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law estimates that more than 16,000 apply each year.

Many states allow a gender-neutral "X" option on driver's licenses, and several countries such as Australia, Canada, and Germany have similar practices.

On the campaign trail, Trump railed against diversity, equity and inclusion policies in the federal government and the corporate world, saying they discriminate against white people - especially men. He has also demonized any recognition of gender diversity, attacking trans people, especially trans women in sports.