Federal employees across the United States are facing new orders to eliminate gender pronouns from their official communications, mandated by the Trump administration's recent directives. This new policy, captured by internal memos from agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Energy, is part of sweeping changes aimed at dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the federal government.
Sources, including ABC News, report these orders were announced shortly after President Trump signed executive orders on his first day of office, which outlined more than just the removal of pronouns from email signatures. The directives demand significant revisions to how agencies communicate and uphold policies concerning gender and diversity.
“Pronouns and any other information not permitted in the policy must be removed from CDC/ATSDR employee signatures by 5 p.m. ET on Friday,” read one memo addressed to CDC employees. Officials have been told to cut out “he/him,” “she/her,” “they/them,” and any variations from their email signatures, memos, and other official documents.
The Department of Energy echoed this directive, asking its employees to remove any DEI language from government discourse and documentation. A spokesperson from the Office of Personnel Management emphasized the new changes are part of broader efforts to adhere strictly to Trump's executive orders, which sought to abolish what were termed “radical and wasteful government DEI programs.”
One notable aspect of the orders revolves around what has been described as “gender ideology extremism.” Trump’s directive highlights the administration's intent to return to what they call biological truths, stating, “It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female,” and stressing this is grounded in “fundamental and incontrovertible reality.”
The directives have faced backlash, particularly from advocates for LGBTQ+ rights who argue these changes could severely undermine protections for gender identity. The Biden administration had previously countered such sentiments, particularly with executive actions aimed at preventing discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
“The president’s belief is trans rights are human rights, and that's why he signed the order,” former White House press secretary Jen Psaki stated during heated discussions about the previous administration's approach. Under the Biden administration, for example, new policies allowed Americans to select “X” as a gender marker on their passports, signifying more inclusive recognition of gender identity.
Now, as Trump’s administration reasserts its policies, the removal of pronouns from official federal communication reflects not only changes at the government level but encapsulates the larger cultural divide over issues of gender identity and recognition.
Indeed, even well-known figures such as former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg have adjusted their public displays of pronouns. Buttigieg was noted to have removed his previously displayed “he/him” tags following the announcement of potential future political endeavors. This shift signals the political and social ramifications of the pronoun removal directive even from within the Democratic party.
While some have rallied against these changes, viewing them as regressions for civil rights advancements, others have welcomed the move, framing it as necessary to restore “traditional values.” The responses from federal employees have varied widely, with some expressing reluctance to comply with the new guidelines, fearing repercussions within their workplaces.
Moving forward, the implication of these directives plays out across various federal agencies, with compliance expected shortly. Each agency is tasked to provide lists detailing actions taken to align with the mandates, marking a significant pivot from previous norms established under the Obama and Biden administrations.
This alteration affects not only internal communications but has wider ramifications on how federal employees engage with the public on sensitive issues of identity and inclusion moving forward. Proponents of the new policies argue they create clarity and return to basics, but critics warn against erasing progress made for transgender and non-binary recognition.
Overall, the Trump administration’s directive to remove gender pronouns from federal communications exemplifies the clash of ideologies within American politics relating to identity and government policy. While this latest initiative brings the focus back to traditional gender classifications, reactions from advocates and opponents of the change highlight the continuing debate over how gender should be understood and represented within all levels of society.