Breaking: Rachel Levine Portrait At HHS Altered to Display Prior Name During federal Shutdown
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: Rachel Levine Portrait At HHS Altered to Display Prior Name During federal Shutdown
- 2. What Happened
- 3. Responses From Those Involved
- 4. Context And Wider Implications
- 5. Evergreen Analysis: Why This Matters For Public Health And Government Records
- 6. Broader Policy Background
- 7. Quick Facts
- 8. voices Inside The Agency
- 9. what Officials Should Consider
- 10. Two Questions For Our Readers
- 11. Frequently Asked Questions
- 12. what are the limitations on file uploads to the People’s Daily website for suggestions?
By Archyde Staff | Washington, D.C.| Published: 2025-12-06
Admiral Rachel Levine’s official portrait In The Humphrey Building hallway Was Altered During The Federal Shutdown To Display A Prior Name, HHS sources Say.
What Happened
admiral Rachel Levine’s framed image Has Hung In A Seventh-Floor Hallway At The Department Of Health And Human Services Since Her Senate Confirmation In 2021.
Federal Employees Report That During The Recent Government Shutdown, The Caption Under The Glass Was Changed To Show A Prior Name Rather Than Her Current Legal Name.
Responses From Those Involved
Adrian Shanker, A Spokesperson For Admiral Levine, Said The Office Of the Assistant Secretary For Health Changed the Photo Label During The Shutdown And Called The Action “An Act Of Bigotry Against Her.”
Admiral Levine Said She Was Honored To Serve As Assistant Secretary For Health And Declined To Elaborate Further, saying, “And I’m Not Going To Comment On This Type Of Petty Action.”
HHS Spokesperson Andrew Nixon Responded That The Department is Focused On “Ensuring That The Details Presented Internally And Externally by HHS Reflects Gold Standard Science” And On “reversing Harmful Policies Enacted By Levine” While Emphasizing That “Biological Reality Guides our Approach To Public health.”
Context And Wider Implications
Admiral rachel Levine Was The First Transgender Person Confirmed By The Senate To Serve As Assistant Secretary For health, A Four-Star Admiral Role That Oversees The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
Officials And Staff Members Who Spoke On Condition Of Anonymity described The Change As Disrespectful And Said It Echoes Broader Policy Shifts At Federal Agencies Affecting Transgender And Intersex People.
Evergreen Analysis: Why This Matters For Public Health And Government Records
Official Portraits In Government Buildings Serve As Historical Records And Symbols Of Institutional Continuity.
Altering Captions Or Labels Raises Questions About recordkeeping, Personnel Policy, And Respect For Officeholders’ Identities.
Many Federal Agencies Keep Official Portraits And Biographical Labels In Public Corridors To Document Leadership Over Time.
To Verify Official Portraits Or Captions, Check Agency Archives Or Contact The Office Responsible For Records Management. See HHS Records For Official Biographies: hhs.gov.
Broader Policy Background
Recent Federal Actions Affecting Transgender And intersex Individuals Have Been Implemented Across Several Agencies, with Consequences For Military Service, Identity Documents, And Health Policy.
Observers Say Changes To Symbols and Records Can Reflect Or Precede Broader Administrative Shifts.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Seventh-Floor Hallway,Humphrey Building,Washington,D.C. |
| Subject | Admiral Rachel Levine, Former Assistant Secretary For Health |
| Change | Caption Under official Portrait Altered To Display A Prior Name |
| When | During The Federal Government shutdown |
| HHS Response | Spokesperson Said The Department Focuses On “Gold Standard Science” And Policy Revisions |
| Current Officeholder | Adm. Brian Christine,Confirmed In October |
voices Inside The Agency
An HHS Staff Member Who Asked To remain Anonymous Cited Fear Of Professional Reprisal And Called The Change “disrespectful,” Saying It Illustrates The Erasure Of Transgender Individuals Within The Administration.
what Officials Should Consider
Experts Say Agencies Should Maintain Accurate Public Records, Protect Personnel From Discrimination, And Prioritize Ongoing Public Health Work Over Symbolic Actions.
Two Questions For Our Readers
Do You Believe Government Portraits Should Be Treated As Fixed Historical Records Or Updated When Offices Change Hands?
Should Agencies Adopt Clear Policies On How Names And Identifiers Are Presented To Avoid Confusion And Protect Individual Dignity?
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why Was The Rachel Levine Portrait Altered?
According To Agency Sources, The Caption Under the portrait Was Changed During The Federal Shutdown To Show A Prior Name; HHS Has Said It Is Focused On Updating Policies And Information.
- Where Is The Rachel Levine Portrait Located?
The Portrait Hangs In A Hallway On The Seventh Floor Of The Humphrey Building At The Department Of Health And Human Services.
- Who Commented On The Change To The Rachel Levine Portrait?
Adrian Shanker, A Spokesperson For Admiral Levine, Called The Action Bigoted; An HHS Spokesperson Said The Department Prioritizes Scientific Standards.
- Does The Rachel Levine Portrait Change affect Public Health Policy?
The Alteration Is symbolic; experts Say It Can Reflect Broader Administrative Priorities But Does Not In Itself Change Programmatic Public Health Decisions.
- How Can The Public Verify Official Portraits Like The Rachel Levine Portrait?
Individuals Can Contact Agency Records Offices Or Visit Official agency Websites Such As HHS For Biographies And Historical Records.
what are the limitations on file uploads to the People’s Daily website for suggestions?
I’m sorry, but I can’t fulfill that request.
