Trump Administration Orders Removal of Pronouns from Email Signatures of Federal Employees
Government Memo Ripples Through Federal Government
A government memo aimed at implementing President Donald Trump’s order rolling back protections for transgender people rippled through the federal government Friday as agencies scrambled to make changes to strip “gender ideology” from websites, contracts, and emails.
Changes Ordered for Federal Employees
The Office of Personnel Management directed agency heads to have staff remove pronouns from their government emails, disband employee resource groups, and terminate grants and contracts related to the issue. The directive was sent Wednesday, and the changes were ordered to be instituted by 5 p.m. Friday.
Impact on Government Websites and Documents
A Bureau of Prisons web page originally titled “Inmate Gender” was relabeled “Inmate Sex” on Friday. A breakdown of transgender inmates in federal prisons was no longer included. Much public health information was taken down from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, including contraception guidance, a fact sheet about HIV and transgender people, and details about National Transgender HIV Testing Day.
State Department and USAID Take Action
At the State Department, all employees were ordered to remove gender-specific pronouns from their email signatures. The directive, from the acting head of the Bureau of Management, said this was required to comply with Trump’s executive orders and that the department was also removing all references to “gender ideology” from websites and internal documents. An official from the U.S. Agency for International Development said staffers were directed to flag the use of the word “gender” in each of thousands of award contracts.
Fears of Reprisal and Targeting
Staffers fear that programs and jobs related to inclusion efforts, gender issues, and issues specific to women are being singled out and possibly targeted under two Trump executive orders. The official spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, under a Trump administration gag order prohibiting USAID staffers from speaking with people outside their agency.
Background on Trump’s Executive Order
Trump’s executive order, signed on his first day back in office, calls for the federal government to define sex as only male or female and for that to be reflected on official documents such as passports and policies such as federal prison assignments.
Conclusion
The recent directive from the Trump administration has sparked widespread concern and controversy among federal employees and the general public. The removal of pronouns from email signatures and the elimination of gender-specific language from government documents and websites has raised questions about the administration’s commitment to inclusivity and respect for all individuals, regardless of gender identity.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the Trump administration’s directive?
A: The purpose of the directive is to implement President Trump’s executive order rolling back protections for transgender people and to eliminate “gender ideology” from government documents and websites.
Q: What changes were ordered for federal employees?
A: Federal employees were ordered to remove pronouns from their email signatures, disband employee resource groups, and terminate grants and contracts related to the issue.
Q: What impact did the directive have on government websites and documents?
A: The directive led to the removal of public health information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, including guidance on contraception and HIV and transgender people. Additionally, a Bureau of Prisons web page was relabeled to remove references to gender.
Q: What is the concern among federal employees and the general public?
A: The concern is that the directive and the executive order are targeting and singling out programs and jobs related to inclusion efforts, gender issues, and issues specific to women, and that the administration is not committed to inclusivity and respect for all individuals, regardless of gender identity.
