Recent internal emails reveal that multiple US government agencies have instructed employees to eliminate gender identifying pronouns from their email signature blocks by a specific deadline. This directive was issued by agencies such as the State Department, Department of Defense, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The rationale behind this move is to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order titled 'Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth,' which emphasizes the recognition of two sexes, male and female.
It is important to note that the executive order does not explicitly mention pronouns, leading to some confusion among employees. There is a growing concern among State Department staff regarding the implications of this directive on freedom of speech and expression within the agency.
An email from the acting head of management at the State Department highlighted that the agency is currently evaluating all programs, contracts, and grants that promote gender ideology. Additionally, efforts are being made to remove any outward-facing media that aligns with such ideologies. Offices within the State Department have been instructed to review various materials, including trainings, forms, and plans, to ensure compliance with the new directive.
Common third-person pronouns such as 'she,' 'he,' and 'they' are widely used in communication. While 'she' and 'he' are traditionally gender-specific pronouns, 'they' serves as a gender-neutral option that can refer to an individual or a group of people.
