Feb 19, 2025 - Health

HHS redefines sex as "immutable" in new guidance

Maya Goldman

RFK Jr. at HHS swearing in. — Kennedy speaks after being sworn in on Feb 13. Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

The Department of Health and Human Services will define sex as an "immutable biological classification" and only recognize males and females, officials said on Wednesday.

Why it matters: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on his first full day on the job released guidance building on on President Trump's executive order seeking to stop recognizing the concept of gender identity.

State of play: The guidance included definitions HHS will use, including defining "father" as a male parent and "mother" as a female parent.

The definition of female is "a person of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing eggs (ova)," while a male is "a person of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing sperm."
A woman is "an adult human female," and a man is "an adult human male."

Reality check: There are about 1.6 million people older than age 13 that identify as transgender in the United States.

An estimated 1.7% of the world population are born with biological traits that don't fit the binary of male and female sexes.

Zoom out: HHS also published a new webpage titled "Protecting women and children," which links to Trump's executive orders on gender ideology and calling for the end of gender-affirming care for minors.

Go deeper: Trump's road map for defunding gender-affirming care

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HHS redefines sex as "immutable" in new guidance

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