Federal workforce modifications under the executive order concerning gender identity: Transforming government employees' personal identity recognition to align with self-identified gender
In a significant move, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has proposed updates to the Nunn-McCurdy law, aiming to rein in cost overruns and strengthen oversight of major defense acquisition programs. Meanwhile, the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a budget of over $800 million for the Government Accountability Office next year, and the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee will continue for another nine years, with a budget of $88 million for fiscal 2026.
However, the most notable changes are in response to President Trump's orders on "gender ideology." These orders, issued on January 20-21, 2025, significantly reshape federal agency operations and employee conduct concerning sex and gender concepts.
The first executive order, 4168, establishes that sex is strictly biological and limited to male and female, rejecting "gender identity" as a synonym or component of sex. Federal agencies are now prohibited from using federal funds to promote gender ideology, and federal workplaces must use "clear and accurate" language acknowledging that biological sex is unchangeable.
The second executive order, 14151, calls for the termination of illegal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) mandates and programs across the federal government. Agency heads are directed to identify federal contractors and grantees involved in DEI training or initiatives funded by the government, signaling potential audits or investigations of DEI activities.
The third executive order, 14173, mandates enforcement of civil rights laws to prohibit DEI preferences, mandates, or programs that violate anti-discrimination laws. All contracts and grants now require certifications that recipients do not operate DEI programs contravening federal law.
Implementation actions already taken by agencies include notifying employees of their compliance requirements, revising policies to remove references to gender identity, and securing protections for women’s biological sex-based spaces.
These executive orders are viewed critically by DEI advocates, who see such policies as undermining efforts to address systemic inequities. For example, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation notes that rolling back DEI initiatives and removing accreditation standards promoting racial diversity weaken institutional incentives to foster inclusion and may negatively impact historically underrepresented groups, including Black Americans.
In other news, Senator Ed Markey's Save Our Staff (SOS) Act aims to prohibit the SBA from conducting reductions in force (RIFs) in most offices. Federal employees are now required to remove pronouns from their email signatures, and the Senate has voted to confirm Scott Kupor as the new director of the Office of Personnel Management.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued orders to accelerate the fielding of low-cost, expendable drones across the military, and members of the American Postal Workers Union have voted in favor of a new contract that runs through 2027. However, it is important to note that the website is not intended for users within the European Economic Area.
These changes in federal policies mark a significant shift in the way sex and gender are perceived and addressed in federal institutions and education. While some see these changes as regressive and potentially harmful to efforts toward equitable treatment and representation, others view them as necessary steps towards a more straightforward and biologically-based understanding of sex and gender.
- The federal workforce is being reimagined with new policies focused on a biological understanding of sex, as a bipartisan group of lawmakers has proposed updates to the Nunn-McCurdy law while dismantling previous Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
- The federal hiring landscape is changing with the implementation of three executive orders, including one that prohibits federal agencies from using federal funds to promote gender ideology and another that mandates the enforcement of civil rights laws to prevent DEI preferences.
- The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a budget for the Government Accountability Office, but the most notable updates pertain to President Trump's orders on "gender ideology," which significantly reshape federal agency operations and employee conduct concerning sex and gender concepts.
- Career development and education-and-self-development within the federal workforce will witness shifts as the implementation actions taken by agencies include revising policies to remove references to gender identity, following the executive orders on sex and gender concepts.
- While these changes may be seen as necessary steps by some, they are criticized by DEI advocates, who believe they could undermine efforts to address systemic inequities and weaken institutional incentives to foster inclusion for historically underrepresented groups.
- In parallel to these changes, policy-and-legislation, politics, general-news, and workplace-wellness continue to unfold independently, as demonstrated by events such as the Senate confirming Scott Kupor as the new director of the Office of Personnel Management, and the American Postal Workers Union ratifying a new contract.
