United States District Judge Julia Kobick has issued a ruling blocking the Trump administration from enforcing a policy that would prohibit individuals from changing gender markers on U.S. passports or using the gender-neutral “X” designation, commonly utilized by nonbinary individuals.

In her ruling, Judge Kobick stated that the executive order and passport policy “on their face classify passport applicants on the basis of sex and thus must be reviewed under intermediate judicial scrutiny.” This level of scrutiny requires the government to demonstrate that its action is substantially related to an important governmental interest.

Kobick determined that the government failed to meet this standard, stating that it did not sufficiently show how the ban on gender marker changes or the use of “X” served a compelling policy goal. As a result, the implementation of the policy has been blocked pending further legal proceedings.

The ruling represents a significant setback for the administration’s attempts to redefine federal identity standards and limit recognition of gender diversity in official documentation. Critics of the policy argued that it violated constitutional protections and civil rights by targeting transgender and nonbinary individuals.

Legal advocates have praised the decision as a win for LGBTQ+ rights and equal access to government services. “This ruling reinforces that discriminatory practices targeting gender identity will not be tolerated under the law,” said one civil rights attorney following the decision.

The case marks one of several ongoing legal challenges to the Trump administration’s broader agenda concerning gender policy, and signals judicial pushback against executive actions perceived as undermining civil liberties. The administration has not yet indicated whether it will appeal the ruling.