US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. on Thursday announced a new guidance defining “mother” as a female parent and “father” as a male parent, as part of President Donald Trump’s “only two sexes” federal policy.
The new guidance issued by the Health and Human Services specified that “sex” is an immutable biological classification, and it defines a “female” as a person with a reproductive system capable of producing eggs, while a “male” has a reproductive system capable of producing sperm.
“This administration is bringing back common sense and restoring biological truth to the federal government,” RFK Jr. was quoted as saying in the HHS statement
“The prior administration’s policy of trying to engineer gender ideology into every aspect of public life is over,” he added.
The announcement marks a reversal of the trend in the US over the past decade, where traditional parental titles like “mother” and “father” have been replaced with gender-neutral terms such as “parent one” and “parent two.”
In 2011, the State Department began using these alternatives, claiming gender-specific terms were outdated. In 2023, Vermont’s Department of Health recommended replacing “son” or “daughter” with “child” or “kid” to promote inclusivity.
“It took many years of effort, but we are finally back to science and common sense,” Roger Severino, who served as director of HHS’ Office for Civil Rights during the first Trump administration, posted on X on Thursday, praising the announcement.
The Trump administration has rolled back protections for transgender rights and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs implemented under former President Joe Biden’s leadership.
Trump has also banned federal support for sex-change procedures for minors, halted medical treatments he views as harmful, and signed executive orders restricting transgender women from participating in female sports, along with blocking transgender athletes from competing in US-hosted events, including the 2028 Olympics and the World Cup.
Trump’s policies have faced legal challenges, with some being blocked by federal judges, and they have drawn criticism from civil rights and LGBTQ+ advocates.
