Trump Administration Seeks Supreme Court Intervention on Transgender Passport Policy Block

Breaking News: Trump Administration Seeks Enforcement of Transgender Passport Policy The Department of Justice filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court on Friday to lift a federal judge's order blocking the enforcement of a policy requiring binary male or female sex designations on US passports. According to court documents, the government argues that it cannot be forced to use "inaccurate" sex designations on identification documents that are government property and an exercise of the president's constitutional and statutory power to communicate with foreign governments. The request comes after a federal judge in Washington state temporarily blocked the policy last week. The Trump administration's move has sparked immediate concern among LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, who argue that the policy would cause "irreparable harm" to transgender and non-binary individuals. Jon Davidson, senior counsel for Lambda Legal, stated that the policy is "a clear attempt to erase the identities of transgender and non-binary people." Timeline: August 2025: The Department of State announces a new policy requiring binary male or female sex designations on passports. September 17, 2025: A federal judge in Washington state temporarily blocks the enforcement of the policy. September 18, 2025: The Department of Justice files an emergency request with the Supreme Court to lift the block. Immediate Impact and Response: The move has sparked widespread criticism from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, who argue that the policy would cause significant harm to transgender and non-binary individuals. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) stated that the policy is "a clear attempt to erase the identities of transgender and non-binary people." Background Context: In 2020, the Department of State announced a new policy allowing individuals to self-identify their gender on passports without providing medical documentation. However, in August 2025, the department reversed course and announced that it would require binary male or female sex designations on passports. What Happens Next: The Supreme Court is expected to consider the Department of Justice's emergency request in the coming days. If the court grants the request, the policy would be allowed to take effect, potentially causing significant harm to transgender and non-binary individuals. *This story is developing. Information compiled from Aljazeera reporting.*