Know Your Rights: Project 2025’s Implementation

What’s Happening? — The new presidential administration has started implementing through executive orders Project 2025, a plan to reshape the federal government and intends to take rights away from large swaths of people, including but not limited to trans, gender-expansive, and intersex folks. New orders from the president are trying to:

  • Change how gender is recognized on federal documents like passports

  • Block access to gender-affirming healthcare for minors by blocking funding

  • Take away protections for trans people at work, in schools, and public spaces

  • Make it harder for trans people in the military, in prison, or government jobs

This page will help you understand what these executive orders mean, what your rights still are, and what you can do to protect yourself.

Key Areas of Impact

1. Federal ID Documents like Passports & Social Security

  • The government is stopping updates to gender markers on passports and other federal documents.

  • If you already changed your passport, it is still valid for now. But if you need to renew, you may not be able to keep your correct gender marker.

  • For those who have gender marker changes currently being processed, follow up with federal offices and seek support from your Congressional representatives or national legal groups.

  • If you have not yet made gender marker changes, it is recommended to hold off until there is clarity on the process or until lawsuits challenge this part of the order.

  • If you don’t have a passport yet and will be applying for one soon, we recommend you wait to see if these harmful rules stay in place or if courts strike them down. If you can’t wait, know that you’ll be forced to use the sex denoted on your birth certificate, otherwise, your application will be denied. If your birth certificate has an amended gender marker, you should consider waiting to apply for a passport until we know how that would be handled. It’s possible your amended birth certificate could be confiscated by the federal government.

  • State IDs and driver’s licenses are not affected.

2. Healthcare Access for Minors

  • The government is trying to block funding for gender-affirming care for minors (like Medicaid, Medicare, and other programs).

  • Federal workers may lose insurance coverage for gender-affirming care in 2026.

  • Doctors and hospitals can still provide care, and state laws that protect trans healthcare for minors are still in place in some states.

3. Schools & Education

  • Trans students still have rights under Title IX, but the government is trying to remove some protections. It’ll be up to the courts to decide where these protections lie.

  • Schools might try to ban trans students from using the right bathrooms or playing on the right sports teams, but courts have ruled in favor of trans students before so things are legally messy here.

  • State protections for trans students still exist in some places outside of Louisiana.

4. Jobs & Workplace Protections

  • It is still illegal to fire someone just for being transgender, thanks to a 2020 Supreme Court ruling. However, things are more legally complicated. The government agency responsible for protecting employees from discrimination, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), is ultimately led by the president, so they will not be advocating on behalf of trans or queer employees facing discrimination.

  • If you face discrimination at work, document everything and reach out to a legal organization listed below for help.

  • However, the government is trying to make workplace harassment rules weaker, meaning some employers might allow misgendering or discrimination.

5. Military Service

  • A new rule makes it harder for trans people to serve in the military, but it does not ban trans service members right away.

  • If you are in the military, do not share private medical information until more details are clear.

6. Prisons & Detention Centers

  • Trans people in federal prisons or immigration detention may be moved to facilities that match their assigned sex at birth, not their gender identity.

  • The government is also stopping gender-affirming care for people in federal custody.

What Has NOT Changed

  • State laws that protect trans rights still exist in some places outside of Louisiana. State laws are changed by the state’s legislature. Louisiana’s legislature convenes on April 14th and adjourns on June 12th.

  • Executive orders are NOT laws. They set government rules, but they can be challenged in court.

  • The Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County still protects against job discrimination.

  • Your identity is valid, and your rights matter.

What You Can Do Right Now

Legal challenges to these harmful policies are already in progress, and more will come. Whether through lawsuits, public comments, or advocacy, there are ways to fight back. One of the most important things we can do right now is stay informed and share accurate information to support and reassure our communities.

For Individuals:

  • Take care of yourself and those around you. We are the best at taking care of ourselves and keeping us safe. Seekout other trans folks in your area and make an effort to attend opportunities to meet other trans folks. Our best protection is each other and having some friends is a critical component to maintaining a balanced state of being.

  • Stay connected. Follow us and other trusted organizations for resources, community events, and opportunities to take action.

  • Make sure your documents are in order. Make sure you know the location of any document paperwork you need. Consider updating state documents. If you’re traveling, keep copies of important paperwork with you.

  • Be an advocate in your circles. Speak up for inclusion and equality in your family, workplace, and community. Educate those around you about these harmful policies and their impact.

  • Support the work. Donate, volunteer, and participate in calls to action from organizations fighting back. Every contribution matters.

For Organizations:

  • Support impacted communities. Check-in with employees, clients, and partners affected by these policies, and offer resources where possible.

  • Stand firm in your commitments. Many organizations will face pressure to back down from supporting trans and nonbinary people. Don’t let shifting political environments deter you from standing for equity and inclusion.

Additional Steps:

  • Seek legal support if needed. If you face discrimination, reach out to legal organizations for help filing complaints at the local, state, or federal level. Some resources listed below.

  • Contact lawmakers. Push back against these policies by reaching out to members of Congress and state legislators. Let them know where you stand.

No matter what the government tries to take away, we will fight back together. Stay informed, stay connected, and keep pushing forward.

Resources

Informational Resources

Legal Resources

If you are facing discrimination, reach out to these organizations:

If you are in of need legal assistance, reach out to these organizations:

  • If you need help with a legal issue and cannot afford an attorney, visit lawhelp.org for self-help resources and information about legal service providers.

Support & Crisis Resources

If you need emotional support, these organizations offer confidential help:

No matter what challenges lie ahead, you are not alone. These resources are here to support and empower you in the fight for your rights.