HHS Reverts Transgender Official’s Portrait Plaque to Birth Name Amid Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has changed the portrait plaque of a prominent transgender former Biden administration official, replacing the name “Rachel Levine” with her birth name, “Richard Levine,” during the recent federal government shutdown. Dr. Levine, who served as assistant secretary for health under President Joe Biden and was the first openly transgender person to receive Senate confirmation, had her official portrait plaque altered in the HHS offices to reflect her former name.
Levine, a four-star admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, was widely recognized for her advocacy of gender-affirming care and public health initiatives during the Biden administration. Her tenure included vocal support for the use of hormone blockers and other medical interventions for transgender youth, a stance that has been both lauded by LGBTQ+ advocates and criticized by opponents.
According to a statement from HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon, the department’s priority is to ensure that all information presented internally and externally “reflects gold standard science” and that policies align with “biological reality.” Nixon emphasized the department’s commitment to reversing what it described as “harmful policies enacted by Levine.” This move comes amid broader efforts by the current administration to roll back many of the pro-transgender programs implemented under President Biden.
Levine’s office confirmed the change through spokesman Adrian Shanker, who condemned the alteration as an act of bigotry. “During the federal shutdown, the current leadership of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health changed Admiral Levine’s photo to remove her current legal name and use a prior name,” Shanker said in a statement to NPR. Levine herself declined to comment extensively, calling the action “petty.”
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions within federal agencies regarding transgender rights and recognition. Under the Biden administration, Levine was a steadfast advocate for gender-affirming care, describing it as essential medical and mental health treatment, even calling it “literally suicide prevention care.” Her position was met with fierce opposition from conservative lawmakers and officials, including those in the Trump administration, which had previously rolled back transgender protections and healthcare access.
Levine’s confirmation in 2021 marked a historic milestone as the first transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate. Her leadership in public health has been recognized nationally, but also made her a target for political disputes over transgender healthcare policies.
The alteration of her portrait plaque to display her birth name during a government shutdown raises questions about the intersection of politics, identity, and federal agency operations. The shutdown, which affected numerous government functions, appears to have provided an opportunity for this symbolic change.
For more on the role of the Department of Health and Human Services in public health policy and administration, visit their official site. Additional context on transgender healthcare policies under recent administrations can be found through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Senate confirmation process that made Levine the first transgender official confirmed is detailed on the U.S. Senate website. For broader federal employment policies and protections, see the Office of Personnel Management.
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