Sun Dec 07 11:30:00 UTC 2025: News Article:
Admiral Rachel Levine’s Portrait Altered at HHS, Sparking Outrage
Washington, D.C. – A portrait of Adm. Rachel Levine, the first transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate, was altered in a hallway at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) headquarters. The change involved adding Levine’s previous name below the portrait, underneath the glass.
The alteration, which occurred during the recent federal shutdown, has been condemned as an act of bigotry against Levine. Adrian Shanker, Levine’s spokesperson, called the move “vindictive” and “unprecedented.”
When asked about the incident, Levine stated that it was “an honor to serve the American people as the assistant secretary for health and I’m not going to comment on this type of petty action.”
In response to inquiries from NPR, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon stated, “Our priority is ensuring that the information presented internally and externally by HHS reflects gold standard science. We remain committed to reversing harmful policies enacted by Levine and ensuring that biological reality guides our approach to public health.”
The current assistant secretary for health is Adm. Brian Christine, who replaced Levine in October 2024. An HHS staff member, speaking anonymously, described the alteration as “disrespectful” and said that it exemplifies the “erasure of transgender individuals by this administration.”
The incident follows a pattern of anti-transgender rhetoric and policy changes implemented by the Trump administration.
First Piper 