A new controversy has erupted within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) after the Trump administration reportedly altered the official portrait of Adm. Rachel Levine, replacing her name with her former birth name an act widely known as deadnaming.
Adm. Levine made history in 2021 when she was sworn in as assistant secretary for health under President Joe Biden, becoming the highest-ranking openly transgender federal official in U.S. history.
What Happened to Adm. Levine’s Portrait?
Adm. Levine’s official portrait hangs inside HHS alongside past leaders of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. However, according to a report by NPR, the agency recently removed her current legal name and replaced it with her prior name.
The change reportedly occurred during the recent federal government shutdown. The use of a transgender person’s birth name without consent is widely recognized as deadnaming, a practice that advocacy groups say is harmful and disrespectful.
GLAAD defines deadnaming as the revelation or use of a transgender person’s former name without permission often seen as invalidating their identity.
Former Biden Official Calls Action “Bigotry”
Adrian Shanker, who previously served as deputy assistant secretary for health policy under President Biden and now acts as Levine’s spokesperson, strongly condemned the move.
He described the change as “an act of bigotry against her” and said it reflected a broader pattern of hostility toward transgender public servants.
Adm. Levine Responds With Restraint
In a brief public response, Levine chose not to directly engage in the controversy. Instead, she emphasized her service record and ongoing commitment to public health.
“It was a great honor to serve in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps,” she said. “My focus has been and continues to be on public health and health equity. I am not going to comment on this type of petty action.”
HHS Defends Decision, Cites “Biological Reality”
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon defended the administration’s position, stating that the agency’s priority is ensuring that all information reflects what it calls “gold standard science.”
He also said that the department remains committed to reversing policies enacted under Levine’s leadership and ensuring what he referred to as “biological reality” guides public health decisions.
However, an unnamed HHS employee told NPR the decision was “disrespectful” and said it represents a broader effort to erase transgender identities within federal institutions.
Broader Rollback of Transgender Rights Under Trump Administration
Since returning to office, the Trump administration has taken multiple high-profile actions affecting transgender and intersex Americans:
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An executive order banning transgender individuals from military service, which the Supreme Court has allowed to be enforced while legal challenges continue
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New restrictions on gender-affirming healthcare
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A policy change preventing citizens from selecting a sex marker on passports that aligns with their gender identity
These decisions have triggered legal battles across the country.
Lawsuits Filed by Transgender Service Members
In recent months, several transgender service members have filed lawsuits against the federal government, alleging they were forced out of the military and illegally stripped of retirement benefits as a result of the new ban.
Civil rights organizations argue that these actions violate constitutional protections and represent discrimination based on gender identity.
Adm. Levine’s History of Being Targeted
Throughout her tenure in public service, Adm. Levine has frequently been targeted by anti-transgender rhetoric. Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, her image was used in political attack advertisements critical of transgender policies.