Transgender Health Leader Rachel Levine's Historic Role and Recognition
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Among the portraits of agency leaders at the federal Department of Health and Human Services is one of Adm. Rachel Levine, who served as Pennsylvania secretary of health and physician general before being named President Biden's assistant secretary of health.
Levine was the first transgender person to win Senate confirmation when she assumed the position in 2021, which she held for four years. National Public Radio reported that the portrait now identifies Levine by her previous name.
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. Adrian Shanker, Levine's spokesperson, described this action as an act of bigotry against her.
Speaking to NPR, Levine said it was an honor to serve the American people as the assistant secretary for health and declined to comment further on what she termed a petty action. Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon stated that their priority is ensuring that the information presented by HHS reflects gold standard science, and they remain committed to reversing harmful policies enacted by Levine and ensuring that biological reality guides their approach to public health.
The report highlights that in 2024, Trump campaigned on an anti-transgender platform, using Levine's image in negative campaign ads, and that since his election, he has imposed anti-trans policies across agencies, including changes to passport rules and forcing out transgender members of the military without benefits.
His orders extended to states, coercing hospitals to end gender-affirming care for young people. The Department of Justice is currently attempting to force hospitals to provide medical information on individuals receiving gender-affirming care, threatening providers with criminal prosecution.
In Pennsylvania, Levine distinguished herself by leading efforts against opioid abuse, HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19, and in federal service, she worked to end the COVID pandemic and promote childhood vaccines.