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Executive Order Explainers and Resources
There is no escaping the realities of what has been taking place in the federal government since January 20, 2025, especially regarding Executive Orders (EOs).
They have been far-reaching yet not unexpected, ranging from redefining the identities and experiences of our trans, nonbinary, and intersex loved ones to redefining birthright citizenship, from ending DEI initiatives to ending the United States’ participation in the World Health Organization. And while the EOs are still coming fast, furious, and are undeniably angering and frightening, it’s important to remember that few EOs can change policy immediately, nor can they immediately change regulations nor the law as established through statutes and the courts; litigation is sure to follow and, in some cases, is already being prepared. Remember: Your validity is not dictated by an Executive Order.
Here are the EOs to date, sorted by topic—anti-LGBTQ+, anti-DEI and accessibility, anti-immigration, and anti-reproductive health—with helpful explainers from our many legal and policy partners plus resources to support your advocacy and messaging efforts around them. We also have helpful legal resources from our trusted partners.
At the bottom of this page we have linked to the Executive Orders, as named and written, directly from the White House. Please set your boundaries and know that our explainers share what you need to know without encountering harmful language.
This page will be updated frequently with more news and resources; please consider bookmarking and sharing it.
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Anti-LGBTQ+ Executive Orders
What does this mean?
So far, President Trump has signed dozens of executive orders (EOs), including ones that impact the LGBTQ+ community; he has also rescinded a number of previous EOs that protected the community. Remember that executive actions do NOT have the authority to override the United States Constitution, federal statutes, or established legal precedent. Given that, many of these orders will be difficult to implement, and efforts to do so will be challenged through litigation.
For a broad overview of new EOs and rescinded EOs, visit HRC’s background on Day One EOs impacting the LGBTQ+ Community.
**Please note that we are consistently updating this page with timely and accurate information from our trusted partners, like Lambda Legal, the ACLU, GLAD Law, Williams Institute, A4TE, and more.**
Resources
Passports and Identity Documents
- Guide to Identity Documents for Trans and Nonbinary People (Lambda Legal)
- Transgender ID Project (GLAD Law)
- Learn more about your state’s policies (Movement Advancement Project)
- ID considerations for Immigration Forms and U.S. Passports for Trans, Non-binary, and Intersex People (Immigration Equality, National Immigrant Justice Center, Oasis Legal Services)
- Report passport issues directly to the ACLU.
Gender-Affirming Care
- Gender-Affirming Care Executive Order Explainer (Advocates for Trans Equality, interACT, National Women’s Law Center, Transgender Law Center, Planned Parenthood, Center for Constitutional Rights, and National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network)
Sex Discrimination/Anti-Trans EO
- Trump’s Executive Orders Promoting Sex Discrimination, Explained (ACLU)
- An overview of Trump’s Day One anti-transgender executive order (A coalition of trusted LGBTQ+ advocacy groups)
- Impact of Executive Order Revoking Non-Discrimination Protections for LGBTQ Federal Employees and Employees of Federal Contractors (Williams Institute)
- A4TE Trans Survival Guide
Trans Military Ban
- Resources and Information for Transgender Service Members (A coalition of trusted trans military and legal organizations)
- GLAD Law and NCLR have filed a challenge to the transgender military ban (GLAD Law)
K-12 Education
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Anti-DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and Accessibility Executive Orders
What does this mean?
Trump’s EOs rolling back DEI and accessibility efforts are a deliberate attempt to undo progress and create new barriers to opportunity for all, upending long-standing bipartisan federal policy meant to open doors that had been unfairly closed. Our friends at the ACLU have created a helpful explainer about each of the EOs and what they are intended to do.
Resources
- Explainer: Executive Order Seeks to Impose False Claims Act Liability for Federal Contractors’ DEI Programs (WilmerHale)
- Workplace EO Explainer (National Women’s Law Center)
- PFLAG Academy Online On-Demand: Be Kind, Rewind: Recognizing Your Role in Building Inclusion Recording & Training Toolkit
- Explaining Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA), The Trump Administration’s Recent Actions on DEIA, and the Impact on Disabled Americans (American Association of People with Disabilities)
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Anti-Immigration Executive Orders
What Does This Mean?
Anti-immigration executive orders were among the top actions taken by the Trump Administration on Day 1. Our friends at the National Immigrant Law Center have provided an excellent analysis of all of these orders that we recommend reading.
Resources
- What do the new immigration executive orders mean for refugees and immigrants? (Global Refuge)
- Know Your Rights: What to do if you are arrested or detained by immigration (available in multiple languages)
- Know Your Rights: Expedited Removal Expansion
- Trump’s Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship, Explained (ACLU)
- President Trump’s Executive Actions Relating to Immigration Enforcement and Mass Deportation (National Immigration Forum)
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Anti-Reproductive Health Executive Orders
What does this mean?
President Trump has already signed several EOs regarding reproductive health, including one enforcing the Hyde Amendment and another reinstating the global gag rule. Our friends at Planned Parenthood have created helpful resources with information on both. Find those in our resources below.
Resources
- Hyde Amendment Explainer (Planned Parenthood)
- Global Gag Rule Explainer (Planned Parenthood)
In addition to the above, here are important legal resources from our trusted partners:
Here are links directly to the Executive Orders that impact the areas above, directly from the White House.
Many of these include language that is harmful. Stay informed but set your boundaries.
- Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government (Jan 20)
- “Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service” (Jan. 20)
- “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” (Jan. 20)
- “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program” (Jan. 20)
- “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship” (Jan. 20)
- “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions” (Jan. 20)
- Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (Jan 21)
- “Enforcing the Hyde Amendment” (Jan. 24)
- “Prioritizing military excellence and readiness” (Jan. 27)
- Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (Jan. 27)
- Restoring America’s Fighting Force (Jan. 27)
- Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation (gender-affirming care) (Jan. 28)
- Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling (Jan. 29)
As noted, we will refresh this site as more EOs are signed and resources are created.
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