Fact Check: Trump Administration Defies Court Order on Transgender Passport Updates
What We Know
In June 2025, a federal judge issued a ruling in the case of Orr v. Trump, which challenged the Trump administration's policy requiring U.S. passports to reflect the sex assigned at birth. This ruling expanded a preliminary injunction that allowed transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals to obtain passports that align with their gender identity or to use an "X" designation. The court's decision was seen as a significant victory for LGBTQ rights, particularly for those affected by the Trump administration's restrictive policies (ACLU).
Following this ruling, the Trump administration was expected to comply with the court's order and allow updates to gender markers on passports. However, reports indicated that the administration appeared to defy this court order by continuing to enforce the previous policy, which did not permit gender marker updates for transgender individuals (Truthout).
Analysis
The evidence suggests that the Trump administration's actions were in direct contradiction to the federal court's ruling. The ACLU and other legal advocates emphasized that the court's decision was a critical step toward dismantling discriminatory barriers faced by transgender individuals in obtaining identification documents (ACLU).
Despite the clear judicial directive, reports from various sources, including a recent article from Truthout, indicated that the administration's refusal to process gender marker updates was a deliberate act of defiance against the court's authority (Truthout). This behavior raises concerns about the administration's respect for judicial rulings and the implications for the rights of transgender individuals.
The reliability of the sources cited is generally strong, with the ACLU being a well-respected organization advocating for civil rights, and Truthout providing coverage on social justice issues. However, it is essential to note that the political context surrounding the Trump administration may introduce some bias in reporting, particularly from sources critical of the administration's policies.
Conclusion
The claim that the Trump administration defied a court order regarding transgender passport updates is True. The evidence indicates that, despite a federal court ruling mandating the allowance of gender marker updates for transgender individuals, the administration continued to enforce its previous policy, effectively disregarding the court's authority.
Sources
- Sex Marker in Passports
- US judge blocks Trump passport policy targeting transgender people
- Transgender US Passport Holders Granted Temporary Relief in Challenge to Trump Gender Marker Policy
- “We Don't Answer To Courts”: Trump Admin Refuses ...
- Trump Admin Appears to Defy Court Order Allowing Gender-Affirming Passports
