Justice Dept. directs employees not to use preferred pronouns

The Justice Department sent out an internal memo on Tuesday directing employees not to use preferred pronouns in their email signatures. 

The memo, which was sent department-wide, says the directive is to conform with President Trump’s executive order “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.”

“Extraneous content, such as preferred pronouns, motivational quotes, and GIFs, shall not be used in the signature block,” stated the memo sent by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The official Department logo may be added to the signature block at the employee’s discretion, directly below the last line in the block.”

Some people use preferred pronouns to reflect their gender identity.

The memo stated, “In pursuit of its law and order agenda each day, the Department deals with facts. To maintain the public trust, the Department’s communications must therefore reflect reality.”

It said employees’ internal and external electronic communications should be “oriented towards the mission of the department.”

“Signature blocks should not include extraneous and declarations, and certainly should not include content at odds with announced administration policies,” it said.

Employees are expected to adhere to the policy starting Aug. 25.

They are allowed to list their name, office name, job title, email address, phone numbers, classified contact information if applicable, and the Justice Department under their name on government emails.

On Jan. 20, upon taking office, Mr. Trump signed the executive order directing the federal government to recognize there are two sexes, male and female.

“These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality,” the executive order stated. “Under my direction, the Executive Branch will enforce all sex-protective laws to promote this reality, and the following definitions shall govern all Executive interpretation of and application of Federal law and administration policy.”

“Efforts to eradicate the biological reality of sex fundamentally attack women by depriving them of their dignity, safety, and well-being,” the order said.