EPA staff find their pronouns removed from emails without warning
Employees at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency discovered their pronouns were deleted from email signatures after the Trump administration ordered the removal of "gender ideology" from government materials.
Liza Gross reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- A memo issued last Wednesday directed federal agencies to eliminate references to "gender ideology" from websites and emails by Friday.
- EPA employees, already struggling with low morale, found their pronouns erased from email signatures without prior notice.
- Diversity, equity and inclusion staff were placed on leave, and employees were told to report colleagues who violated the new directives.
Key quote:
“I’ve never seen anything like this. I’ve never seen literally, every day, folks are afraid to turn their computers on. They don’t know what message will be coming out next.”
— Marie Owens Powell, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, Council 238
Why this matters:
A new directive from the administration is sending shockwaves through the federal workforce, raising concerns that it could erode workplace rights and undermine efforts toward inclusivity. While the specifics of the order remain under scrutiny, critics say its impact extends beyond symbolism, fostering fear among employees and potentially curbing open expression in government offices. Federal agencies have long been a battleground for policies aimed at creating more equitable work environments, particularly for marginalized groups. But this latest move, part of a broader pattern of actions by the Trump administration, has advocates warning that it could weaken protections and deter employees from speaking out.
Related: CDC halts publication of research papers to remove banned terms
