The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has discreetly revised the official portrait of Adm. Rachel Levine, the former Assistant Secretary for Health during the Biden administration.
This alteration has ignited a wave of discontent, primarily from Levine himself. Levine, who identifies as transgender, was appointed to a high-ranking sub-Cabinet position under President Biden, who seemingly considered this aspect of Levine's identity as a qualifying factor. The portrait, now displayed in the Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C., has reverted to Levine's birth name, reading "Richard L. Levine, M.D."
According to RedState, the HHS confirmed the name change, citing concerns over the accuracy of the admiral's name. The department also criticized Levine's policies during his tenure. "Our priority is ensuring that the information presented internally and externally by HHS reflects gold standard science," stated HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon to NPR.
"We remain committed to reversing harmful policies enacted by Levine and ensuring that biological reality guides our approach to public health."
During his time as Pennsylvania's Secretary of Health in 2020, Levine issued a directive akin to that of former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, mandating nursing homes to admit COVID-positive patients. This decision was made despite Levine relocating his own mother from a nursing home. Levine later acknowledged errors in the reporting of COVID-related deaths. However, this did not deter the White House from nominating Levine for a senior-level position, encapsulating what some critics view as a misguided emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) qualifications.
Under President Biden, Levine advocated for the normalization of sex change treatments for minors, arguing that any restrictions were imposed "specifically for political and ideological purposes." This stance, however, has been met with significant opposition, and the recent correction of the portrait has been seen by some as a step towards restoring a sense of reality.
Richard Levine expressed his dissatisfaction with the name change, describing it to NPR as an act "of bigotry" against him. He further remarked that he would "not going to comment on this type of petty action."
This is not the first instance where the Trump administration has stirred controversy with official portraits from the Biden era. President Trump previously made headlines by replacing Biden's portrait with an image of an autopen, humorously suggesting that it was the true operator of Biden's presidency.
The recent developments underscore a broader debate about identity and qualifications in public service. While the Biden administration's approach to appointments has been criticized for prioritizing identity over merit, the Trump administration's actions highlight a commitment to traditional values and a focus on biological reality.
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