Donald Trump Rolls Back LGBTQ+ Discrimination Policy
The Trump administration has revoked a Biden-era policy that previously ensured cases of LGBTQ+ discrimination would be investigated in schools receiving federal nutrition funding.
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for comment via email on Thursday.
Why It Matters
The Trump administration has worked to dismantle policies established by the previous administration as well as pushing forward its own, including polices that directly affect the LGBTQ+ community, such as banning transgender individuals from military service and rolling back workplace protections.
On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump issued an order that said the government would recognize only two sexes, male and female, and that they are not changeable.
Hundreds of thousands of schools across the U.S. participate in various federal food and nutrition aid programs, with nearly 30 million student participants in the National School Lunch Program.
What To Know
Under former President Joe Biden, schools that received funds from the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) were required to" investigate allegations of discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation," according to the USDA.
The policy, which the USDA announced in May 2022, has faced legal challenges from numerous states, including a lawsuit from the Rapides Parish School District in Louisiana and the conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom.
In a May 2022 press release, the department said it would interpret various food, nutrition and education statutes "to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity."
The Trump administration rolled back the policy earlier this week, writing in a July 7 statement: "USDA has rescinded the Biden Administration's May 2022 Bostock policy update that sought to require federally-funded food and nutrition service programs to redefine discrimination by reason of 'sex.'"
The USDA continued, "Today's guidance eliminates the illegal threats issued under the Biden Administration that mandated compliance with ever-evolving concepts of gender ideology as a condition for participation in USDA school programs."
What People Are Saying
A spokesperson for GLAAD, a nonprofit LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, told Newsweek via email Thursday night: "Americans deserve leaders who will fight for everyone's health, safety, and wellbeing. The Trump administration already tried and failed to illegally withhold Congressionally appropriated funding for school lunches in states that support LGBTQ people and youth. President Trump just signed a budget into law that cuts off funding for food and adds barriers to health care for millions of working class Americans. His administration continues to take orders straight from the extremist anti-American playbook Project 2025 instead of working for every American's ability to feed and care for their families, or for all children to be safe and cared for at school.
"LGBTQ people are in every family, community, school, and house of worship. It's time for the Trump administration to focus on ideas that help all Americans be well and succeed."
The Congressional Equality Caucus said in a Thursday post on X, formerly Twitter: "Trump's USDA just rescinded a policy that protected LGBTQI+ people & families from discrimination in food assistance programs like SNAP & the National School Lunch program. This is beyond cruel. No American should go hungry just because of who they are or who they love."
Former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said in a May 2022 press release: "USDA is committed to administering all its programs with equity and fairness, and serving those in need with the highest dignity. A key step in advancing these principles is rooting out discrimination in any form – including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. At the same time, we must recognize the vulnerability of the LGBTQI+ communities and provide them with an avenue to grieve any discrimination they face. We hope that by standing firm against these inequities we will help bring about much-needed change."
Brian Dittmeier, director of LGBTQI+ equality at the National Women's Law Center (NWLC), said in a July 9 statement: "Fresh off cutting food assistance for millions of Americans, the Trump administration is finding new ways to take food away from hungry children. With an estimated 2 million LGBTQI+ students across the country, the Trump administration is encouraging schools to turn the other way as marginalized youth face discrimination in the lunch line. No student should be denied food simply because of who they are or who they love."