HUD Revises 50 Regulations to Remove Gender Identity Definitions and Adopt Biological Sex Criteria

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a press release on April 23, 2026, announcing the removal of definitions of gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender from 50 regulations. HUD will apply the biological definition of sex in its regulations.

The agency will end the prohibition on discrimination against gender identity in all Community Planning and Development programs. HUD's Equal Access Rule will be adjusted to protect women's shelters. The department will define terms such as father, mother, man, woman, boy, and girl consistent with biological reality across its regulations.

' Turner added, 'The Left’s war on biological reality through radical gender ideology will no longer take precedence over the safety and security of America’s most vulnerable women. ' ZeroHedge reported these developments, highlighting the policy's focus on reserving women’s shelters for biological women. The changes follow earlier actions by the agency under the current administration.

' This order started the process of offering services at shelters and other HUD-funded housing programs only in accordance with the biological definition of sex. Turner stated at the time, 'We, at this agency, are carrying out the mission laid out by President Trump on January 20th when he signed an executive order to restore biological truth to the federal government.

This means recognizing there are only two sexes: male and female.

' President Trump signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, which initiated these efforts to recognize biological definitions in federal policies. ZeroHedge reported that the new announcement is part of a comprehensive effort at HUD to align regulations with biological reality.