Former President Barack Obama's 2016 Equal Access Rule was published to "ensure that all individuals have equal access to many of the Department's core shelter programs in accordance with their gender identity." The rule was initially published in 2012 to prohibit sex-based discrimination. However, the 2016 version "in effect, allowed individuals to self-identify their gender without regard to their biological sex," meaning men who identify as women could access HUD spaces designated for women.

Shelters, in particular, are largely considered one of the few places women can go when escaping domestic abuse or violence. As The Daily Wire reported, "Advocates have warned for years that allowing men in these spaces presents a very real danger for the female occupants." Under Turner's order, transgender-identifying men will no longer have access to these facilities.

"I am directing HUD staff to halt any pending or future enforcement actions related to HUD's 2016 Equal Access Rule, which, in essence, tied housing programs, shelters and other facilities funded by HUD to far-left gender ideology," Turner stated in a press release. "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."

Beyond Trump's EO, Turner emphasized that putting an end to the Obama rule "means getting government out of the way of what the Lord established from the beginning when He created man in His own image." Ultimately, "HUD is going back to work for the American people" and, as HUD staff shared with The Washington Stand, will start taking steps "toward restoring our country to the Biblical principles our country was founded on." Turner's order "restores Biblical, biological truth at HUD," his office insists, and "there will be more where this came from."

Turner's order comes after the three-week-old Trump administration has already taken strides to fulfill promises made during President Donald Trump's campaign—much of which has centered on rooting out diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the federal government, as well the removal of abortion and LGBT-related activism.

As for Turner promoting Biblical principles, Family Research Council's David Closson believes it's in his DNA. "Prior to his confirmation by the Senate as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development," he told TWS, "Scott Turner served as an associate pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas," which "is a well-known Southern Baptist church whose senior pastor has long been involved in denominational life."

According to Closson, "I'm not at all surprised that Secretary Turner has begun his tenure at HUD by making it clear that he will be guided by Biblical worldview as it relates to issues concerning gender, identity, and sexuality." In fact, in addition to Turner's recent order, the Trump administration at large "has seen a return to creation order and morality concerning sexuality," Closson pointed out, "and it is my hope that secretary Turner will do his part in steering HUD in the direction that President Trump clearly intends for the federal government to take, which is a return to sanity in terms of rejecting radical gender ideology."

"My prayer," he concluded, "is that Secretary Turner and his staff will have wisdom, discernment, and the courage of their convictions to implement policies that lift up our communities that most need help." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Sarah Holliday is a reporter at The Washington Stand.

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