HHS issues "Defining Sex" guidance and sex-based definitions for the department and the public
- Date
- Actor
- HHS Office of the Secretary / Office on Women's Health
- Agency
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Type
- Guidance/memo
Summary
Implementing EO 14168, HHS issued "Defining Sex: Guidance for Federal Agencies, External Partners, and the Public," defining sex as an "immutable biological classification as either male or female" based on gamete type and defining "female," "male," "woman," "man," "girl," "boy," "mother," and "father" accordingly. HHS committed to using these definitions department-wide and launched a promotional "sex-based definitions" webpage through the Office on Women's Health. The guidance is the terminological foundation for later HHS actions treating gender identity as legally irrelevant. (See also section 12.)
Status
In effect; HHS reissued an updated version of the guidance dated November 20, 2025.
As recorded in the data of . Check the sources for anything newer.
Related litigation
Documents
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HHS issues "Defining Sex" guidance and sex-based definitions for the department and the public
U.S. Dep't of Health & Hum. Servs., Defining Sex: Guidance for Federal Agencies, External Partners, and the Public (Feb. 19, 2025), https://womenshealth.gov/sites/default/files/_images/2025/2.19.25%20Defining%20Sex%20Guidance%20for%20Federal%20Agencies,%20External%20Partners,%20and%20the%20Public%20FINAL.pdf.
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HHS issues "Defining Sex" guidance and sex-based definitions for the department and the public
Sources
- womenshealth.gov/sites/default/files/_documents/2025/Defining-Sex-Guidance-for-…(opens another site)PDF, external
- womenshealth.gov/sites/default/files/_images/2025/2.19.25 Defining Sex Guidance…(opens another site)PDF, external
- cnn.com/2025/02/19/health/hhs-sex-man-woman-definitions/index.html(opens another site)
- hhs.gov/about/news/2025/02/19/hhs-takes-action-president-trumps-executive-order…(opens another site)
Cite this action
U.S. Dep't of Health & Hum. Servs., Defining Sex: Guidance for Federal Agencies, External Partners, and the Public (Feb. 19, 2025), https://womenshealth.gov/sites/default/files/_images/2025/2.19.25%20Defining%20Sex%20Guidance%20for%20Federal%20Agencies,%20External%20Partners,%20and%20the%20Public%20FINAL.pdf.
Short form: U.S. Dep't of Health & Hum. Servs., Defining Sex: Guidance for Federal Agencies, External Partners, and the Public (Feb. 19, 2025), https://womenshealth.gov/sites/default/files/_images/2025/2.19.25%20Defining%20Sex%20Guidance%20for%20Federal%20Agencies,%20External%20Partners,%20and%20the%20Public%20FINAL.pdf.