Trump Executive Actions and LGBTQ+ Health Tracker

A series of executive actions issued by the Trump administration since January 20, 2025, has significantly altered the federal landscape for LGBTQ+ health protections and access to care. These actions include the rescission of previous equity-focused orders, the redefinition of sex within federal frameworks, and new restrictions on gender-affirming medical treatments.

According to a tracker published by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) on April 10, 2026, these policy shifts directly affect health programs, federal funding criteria, and the ability of providers to offer specific services to LGBTQ+ populations.

Rescission of Equity and Nondiscrimination Orders

On January 20, 2025, the administration began the rescission of several Executive Orders issued during the Biden administration that were designed to advance LGBTQ+ equity. Among those eliminated were Executive Order 13988, Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation, and Executive Order 14075, Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals.

Additional actions on January 20, 2025, included the rescission of Executive Order 14020, which established the White House Gender Policy Council. The administration also revoked orders related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and those focused on nondiscrimination and equity within schools.

The removal of these orders has stripped federal recognition and oversight of protections, which KFF reports has impeded the development of health programs and community health access.

Redefining Sex and Impact on Federal Funding

The administration issued an executive action titled Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government (Executive Order 14168) on January 20, 2025. This order redefines sex as a binary and prohibits the use of the term gender identity in federal forms, guidance, and funding.

This policy change has immediate implications for public health funding. Reports indicate that federal grants, including those specifically designated for HIV services, are being denied or revoked if they are used to serve transgender individuals.

Restrictions on Gender-Affirming Care

The administration has implemented measures to limit access to gender-affirming care, with a particular focus on transgender youth and transgender individuals generally. This includes Executive Order 14187, Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.

These actions aim to restrict the recognition of gender identity and reshape the criteria for federal funding, affecting how LGBTQ+ individuals access medical services and whether those services remain available through federal programs.

Broader Administrative and Legal Challenges

Beyond direct health mandates, the administration has taken steps to dismantle DEI offices, trainings, and grants between January 20 and January 21, 2025, through the order Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing (Executive Order 14151). Other related actions include Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.

These executive actions are currently facing legal challenges. The National LGBTQ+ Bar has established a litigation tracker to monitor pending court cases addressing these orders, including those regarding military excellence (Executive Order 14183), K-12 schooling (Executive Order 14190), and sports participation (Executive Order 14201).

The collective impact of these policies is a shift in how federal agencies recognize gender identity, which directly influences the safety and fairness with which health providers can serve LGBTQ+ patients.