Trump orders federal agencies to remove pronouns from email signatures
A sweeping mandate affecting federal bureaucrats across multiple agencies has emerged from the Trump administration's latest executive action.
According to Daily Caller, federal employees received orders to remove pronouns from their email signatures by close of business Friday, January 31, 2025, as part of compliance with President Donald Trump's executive order acknowledging only two biological sexes.
Office of Personnel Management Acting Director Charles Ezell issued initial guidance through a memo sent to department heads on Wednesday.
The directive specifically instructed agencies to disable pronoun prompt features in email systems and remove any pronoun information from employee signatures by the Friday deadline. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff received explicit instructions from their Chief Information Officer, Jason Bonander, about the required changes.
Federal agencies face immediate compliance requirements
The executive order's impact extends far beyond email signatures, reaching into various aspects of federal operations.
Department heads must terminate programs promoting gender ideology, placing involved employees on paid administrative leave. Additionally, agencies must conduct comprehensive reviews of all documentation, replacing instances of "gender" with "sex" across forms and official papers.
One CDC employee expressed unprecedented concern over the directive, as shared with ABC News: "In my decade-plus years at CDC I've never been told what I can and can't put in my email signature."
Similar orders reached Department of Transportation employees on Thursday, suggesting a coordinated implementation across federal agencies. The sweeping changes align with Trump's broader initiative to eliminate what he terms "radical and wasteful" diversity, equity and inclusion programs within the federal government.
Executive order implements widespread policy changes
Trump's day-one executive orders target multiple aspects of federal operations related to gender recognition and DEI initiatives.
The directives mandate significant changes to government-issued identification documents, eliminating alternative sex classifications. Federal prisons must also relocate biological men from women's facilities under the new guidelines.
Implementation details continue to emerge as agencies work to comply with the executive order's requirements. While the CDC and Department of Transportation have confirmed receipt of specific email signature guidance, it remains unclear whether other agencies received similar instructions regarding email protocol changes.
The scope of these changes demonstrates the administration's comprehensive approach to reshaping federal policy on gender recognition. Agency responses indicate rapid mobilization to meet compliance deadlines, even as some employees express concern about the unprecedented nature of the directives.
Implementation timeline prompts rapid agency response
Federal departments face tight deadlines for implementing the required changes. The Office of Personnel Management's memo established a clear timeline for compliance, with the initial email signature changes due by close of business Friday. This swift implementation schedule reflects the administration's prioritization of the executive order's objectives.
Multiple agencies have begun the process of reviewing and revising their policies, procedures, and documentation. The comprehensive nature of the changes requires coordination across various administrative levels within each department. Senior officials must ensure their agencies meet compliance requirements while maintaining operational continuity.
Departments must also address the practical implications of these changes for their workforce. This includes updating internal communication systems, revising official documents, and providing guidance to employees about new protocols and expectations.
Current implementation status shapes federal response
Federal bureaucrats across multiple agencies now face significant changes in their workplace protocols and communication practices. The Office of Personnel Management's memo triggered a cascade of policy implementations affecting email signatures, documentation, and operational procedures throughout the federal government.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Transportation lead early compliance efforts, with other agencies expected to follow suit. Department heads must navigate the complexities of implementing these changes while ensuring continued operational effectiveness.
Questions remain about the long-term impact of these policy changes on federal workplace culture and operations. As agencies work to meet compliance deadlines, the federal government enters a new phase of policy implementation and workplace standards.