The Trump administration has officially prohibited federal workers from including their preferred pronouns in email signatures, deeming it a result of what they see as a misguided “gender ideology.”
Some White House officials are taking a similar stance with the journalists who cover them.
On at least three recent occasions, senior Trump press aides have declined to respond to reporters’ questions because the journalists had identifying pronouns in their email signatures.
“As a matter of policy, we do not engage with reporters who have pronouns in their bios,” stated Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, in response to a New York Times reporter’s query about the potential closure of a renowned climate research observatory.
A few weeks earlier, Katie Miller, a senior adviser at the Department of Government Efficiency, refused to answer questions from another Times reporter who inquired about the legal status of the department’s records.
“As a matter of policy, I don’t engage with individuals who use pronouns in their signatures as it indicates they ignore scientific realities and, therefore, facts,” wrote Ms. Miller in an email. She further added in a separate message, “This policy applies to all reporters who include pronouns in their signature.”
The practice of including pronouns, such as “he/him” or “they/them,” in email signatures and social media bios has become widespread as a way to clarify one’s gender identity and demonstrate inclusivity and support for transgender and nonbinary individuals.
Conservative politicians and pundits have criticized this practice as an example of what they view as excessive political correctness and condemned it as an effort to normalize the idea that there are more than two biological genders, male and female, the “scientific realities” Ms. Miller seemed to be referring to.
When contacted for comment, administration officials did not directly confirm if their responses to journalists reflect a new formal policy of the White House press office, or when this practice began.
“Any reporter who chooses to include their preferred pronouns in their bio clearly ignores biological reality or truth and, therefore, cannot be trusted to write an honest story,” wrote Ms. Leavitt, the press secretary, in an email.
Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, mentioned in an email: “If The New York Times dedicated the same amount of time to reporting the truth as they do to focusing on pronouns, perhaps they would be a more credible publication.”
This practice seems to have extended beyond reporters at The Times. Matt Berg, a reporter at Crooked Media, conducted an experiment in mid-February after speaking with another journalist who had a similar experience.
Mr. Berg, who typically does not include pronouns in his email signature, added “(he/him)” to a message he sent to Ms. Miller, asking about the administration’s policy on Ukraine. He received a nearly identical response.
“I find it puzzling that they prioritize pronouns over providing journalists with accurate information, but that appears to be the situation,” Mr. Berg commented in an email to The Times.
The Trump administration has prioritized transgender issues in its early policy initiatives. President Trump signed an executive order stating that there are only two sexes, female and male, on his first day in office. The administration has subsequently implemented various policies that prevent transgender individuals from serving in the military, bar transgender females from participating in women’s sports, and weaken protections under certain anti-discrimination laws. Many of these policies are currently facing legal challenges.
A spokesperson for The New York Times stated: “Dodging difficult questions goes against transparent engagement with a free and independent press. However, refusing to address a straightforward request to clarify the administration’s policies due to the format of an email signature is both alarming and perplexing, especially coming from the top press office in the U.S. government.”
Shawn McCreesh contributed reporting.