Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government

January 20, 2025

Presidential Actions

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Action Summary

Purpose: Counter efforts that deny the biological reality of sex and allow individuals to self-identify contrary to established biological criteria; protect women’s safety, dignity, and integrity by reaffirming sex-based protections.
Policy & Definitions:
- Immutable Sex Categories: Recognizes only two, unchangeable sexes—male and female—based on biological facts.
- Terminology: Provides clear definitions for “sex,” “women,” “men,” “female,” “male,” and explains gender ideology versus gender identity.
Federal Enforcement:
- Agencies must enforce sex-protective laws using the defined biological terms; all official documents, guidance, and communications should reflect these definitions.
- Government-issued IDs and personnel records must accurately indicate an individual’s sex.
Eliminating Gender Ideology:
- Mandates the removal of any policies, guidelines, or funding that promote gender ideology.
- Directs correction of the misapplication of Supreme Court precedent (Bostock v. Clayton County) where it conflicts with sex-based distinctions.
Privacy in Intimate Spaces:
- Ensures that facilities such as prisons, detention centers, and shelters maintain sex designation based on biological sex, not gender identity.
- Rules out federal funding for gender conversion procedures in correctional settings.
Protecting Rights:
- Guidance to maintain the binary nature of sex in single-sex spaces in workplaces and federally funded entities under the Civil Rights Act.
Legislative Codification: Calls for proposed bill text within 30 days to codify the definitions and policies outlined in the order.
Agency Implementation & Reporting:
- Agencies must report implementation measures within 120 days, including changes to documents and policies.
- Requires rescinding of conflicting or previous executive orders and guidance, notably those related to gender ideology in education and employment.
General Provisions:
- Clarifies that the order does not impair the authority of executive departments or create enforceable rights against the government.
- Specifies that the order applies subject to existing law and appropriations.

Risks & Considerations

The Executive Order’s emphasis on defining sex strictly as male or female and rejecting gender identity could lead to significant legal and social challenges. This may affect Vanderbilt University’s policies on gender inclusivity and non-discrimination, potentially leading to conflicts with federal funding requirements or civil rights obligations.
There is a risk of increased scrutiny and potential legal challenges for programs and initiatives that support gender diversity and inclusion. This could impact the university’s reputation and its ability to attract a diverse student body and faculty.
The order’s directive to remove federal funding for gender ideology could affect research grants and partnerships that focus on gender studies or related fields, potentially reducing funding opportunities for Vanderbilt’s academic programs.
Vanderbilt University may need to reassess its policies and practices regarding gender identity to ensure compliance with federal regulations, which could involve significant administrative and operational changes.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt’s Office of LGBTQI Life may face challenges in maintaining its support and advocacy efforts for gender-diverse students, potentially requiring adjustments to align with federal policies.
Gender Studies Program could experience shifts in curriculum focus or funding opportunities, necessitating strategic planning to address potential impacts on academic offerings and research.
The Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion may need to revise its policies and training programs to ensure compliance with the new federal definitions and guidelines.
Vanderbilt’s partnerships with organizations that promote gender inclusivity may need to be reevaluated to ensure alignment with federal mandates.

Financial Impact

The potential withdrawal of federal funding for programs perceived to promote gender ideology could lead to financial constraints for certain research and academic initiatives at Vanderbilt.
Changes in federal funding priorities may necessitate a shift in grant application strategies, particularly for projects related to gender studies and diversity initiatives.
Vanderbilt may need to allocate additional resources to ensure compliance with the new federal regulations, impacting budget allocations for other university programs.
There could be a potential impact on student enrollment and retention if the university’s policies are perceived as not supportive of gender diversity, affecting tuition revenue and financial aid distribution.

Relevance Score: 5 (The order presents critical risks involving legal or regulatory issues that may require significant changes to university policies and practices.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations should closely monitor the implementation of this executive order, particularly the guidance issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General, to ensure compliance with new federal definitions and policies regarding sex and gender.
The Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies should evaluate the potential impacts of this order on academic freedom and curriculum development. Engaging in dialogue with policymakers and other educational institutions could help mitigate any negative effects on academic programs.
Vanderbilt’s Legal Affairs Office should review and update university policies and documentation to ensure alignment with the new federal definitions of sex and gender, as outlined in the executive order. This includes revising any forms, communications, or policies that may be affected.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion should assess the implications of this order on campus inclusivity initiatives and develop strategies to support affected students and staff while maintaining compliance with federal regulations.

Opportunities

The executive order presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Research Centers to conduct studies on the societal and legal impacts of redefining sex and gender in federal policy. This research could position Vanderbilt as a leader in understanding the broader implications of such policy changes.
Vanderbilt can leverage its expertise in law and public policy to engage in national discussions and provide thought leadership on the balance between federal policy and individual rights related to sex and gender.

Relevance Score: 4 (The order requires major process changes to ensure compliance with new federal definitions and policies, impacting various university departments and initiatives.)

Average Relevance Score: 4.4

Timeline for Implementation

Immediately: The Attorney General is required to issue guidance on correcting the misapplication of Bostock v. Clayton County (2020).
Within 30 days:
- The Secretary of Health and Human Services must provide clear guidance expanding on the sex-based definitions set forth in the order.
- The Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs must present proposed bill text to codify these definitions.
Within 120 days: Each agency head is to submit an update on the implementation of this order to the President via the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Relevance Score: 5

Impacted Government Organizations

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Tasked with issuing guidance to implement the new sex-based definitions.
Department of State: Along with Homeland Security, responsible for updating identification documents to reflect the order’s definitions.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Directed to ensure that government-issued identification reflects the biological sex criteria.
Office of Personnel Management (OPM): Required to update personnel records to match the new definitions of sex.
Department of Justice (Attorney General): Instructed to issue guidance on enforcing sex-based rights, including corrections related to Supreme Court decisions, and to oversee changes affecting the Bureau of Prisons.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Ordered to propose rulemaking that affects policies addressing single-sex spaces.
Department of Labor: Expected to work with the Attorney General and other enforcement bodies to protect sex-based workplace distinctions.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): Part of the coordinated enforcement effort under the Civil Rights Act.
Department of Education: Implicated through the rescission of existing guidance documents and policies related to gender identity in educational settings.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Responsible for receiving implementation updates from agency heads regarding changes made to comply with the order.

Relevance Score: 3 (Multiple key Federal Departments and agencies from various sectors are directly impacted by this order.)

Responsible Officials

Secretary of Health and Human Services – Tasked with issuing guidance clarifying sex-based definitions within 30 days.
Secretary of State – Responsible for implementing changes to government-issued identification documents.
Secretary of Homeland Security – Charged with both updating identification documents and ensuring that males are not detained in women’s facilities.
Director of the Office of Personnel Management – Required to implement changes on identification documents and ensure accurate reporting in personnel records.
Attorney General – Directed to issue guidance to correct misapplications of legal precedent, ensure proper policy in correctional and intimate spaces, and oversee enforcement of sex-based rights.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development – Required to propose rulemaking to rescind prior gender-related policies affecting community planning and single-sex spaces in shelters.
Secretary of Labor – Along with other officials, responsible for enforcement under the Civil Rights Act as per the new guidance.
General Counsel and Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – Designated to enforce requirements in workplaces regarding sex-based distinctions.
Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs – Instructed to present proposed bill text to codify the definitions within 30 days.
Director of the Office of Management and Budget – Serves as the conduit for agency heads to report on implementation efforts within 120 days.
Agency Heads – Directed to update the President on implementation, rescind conflicting guidance, and align agency communications and policies with the new definitions.

Relevance Score: 5 (Directs action at the Cabinet and White House level, affecting high-level officials responsible for a wide range of federal agency policies and implementation.)