Employees at the Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, and Centers for Disease Control must now use their legal names in official systems due to a recent policy change. This change comes as a response to President Trump's executive order reversing protections for transgender individuals.
The policy impacts transgender employees who use names aligning with their gender identity rather than their assigned sex at birth. It also affects individuals who choose to use their maiden name at work, go by their middle name, initials, or a nickname.
This policy goes beyond previous directives and has sparked criticism from various sources. The Department of Health and Human Services has enforced these changes, leading to concerns about the impact on transgender employees and the agencies' tradition of inclusivity.
While the administration has not provided a full policy document, it has emphasized the importance of adhering to "biological truth" and eliminating what it calls "gender ideology" from government practices.
Despite the controversy, some employees have found ways to maintain their preferred names within the system. The debate over this policy continues as it affects individuals across various agencies under the Department of Health and Human Services.