HUD Secretary says agency issued proposed rule to replace gender-identity definitions with 'sex' across HUD regulations

The HUD Secretary told attendees that HUD has issued a proposed rule to change how the agency defines protected categories in its regulations.

"We have issued a proposed rule to remove radical definitions of gender identity and sexual orientation, replacing them with sex across nearly 50 regulations," the HUD Secretary said. He said the change is intended to "rectify" what his office views as conflicts between non-discrimination rules and some providers' religious beliefs and said the equal-access rule would be adjusted to protect women who go to women's shelters.

The secretary framed the action as part of a broader Religious Liberty Commission and a Department of Justice task force effort to uncover discrimination against Christians in federal programs. He did not provide a Federal Register citation, the proposed rule text, an agency docket number, or a public-comment deadline during the remarks.

Audience members interjected affirmations after the announcement, and the speech included the secretary's broader assertion that restoring certain definitions is part of protecting religious liberty. The secretary did not describe how the revision would interact with existing federal civil-rights statutes, nor did he outline whether the rulemaking has been coordinated with other agencies.

Because the speech did not include the rule text or procedural details, reporters and stakeholders will need to consult HUD's rulemaking docket or the Federal Register to confirm the scope, legal basis and timeline of any regulatory change.