In a recent development, Republican Senator Ted Budd from North Carolina has called on the U.S. State Department to retract its requirement for employees to use preferred pronouns and honorifics in the workplace. The department had introduced new guidelines titled “Updated Department Guidance Regarding Transgender Employees in the Workplace” in August, which mandates that employees and applicants should be addressed by the name, pronouns, and honorifics that they themselves choose to use.
Senator Budd argues that Congress never authorized the department to impose such restrictions on employee speech. He also highlights concerns raised by senators with religious convictions who believe that complying with the guidance would violate their religious beliefs. Budd further asserts that the guidance may infringe upon the First Amendment rights of State Department employees, as recognized by the Supreme Court, to speak openly on matters of public concern and to be free from compelled government speech.
Budd has called upon State Department Secretary Antony Blinken to provide clarifications on several aspects related to the guidance. These include the legal authority behind the guidance, potential exceptions based on religious or non-religious grounds, the process for employees to request exceptions, efforts made to inform employees about this process, and measures taken to prevent retaliation or mistreatment.
The senator also seeks justification from the department on how the guidance aligns with the First Amendment if there are no exceptions, and requests detailed information on the disciplinary process for alleged violations and the standards used to determine the seriousness of violations.
Budd emphasizes the importance of religious liberty and freedom of speech for State Department employees. He argues that by threatening termination for employees who seek to live according to their beliefs, the guidance puts at risk the freedom of religion and freedom of speech for all employees. He calls on Secretary Blinken to rescind the guidance immediately so that employees can carry out their vital work without fear of job loss.
The letter to the State Department is cosigned by several Republican senators, including Chuck Grassley, Thom Tillis, Marco Rubio, Mike Lee, Tommy Tuberville, Tom Cotton, James Lankford, Josh Hawley, JD Vance, and Roger Marshall.
Digital has reached out to the State Department for comment, but there has been no response at the time of writing.
Jamie Joseph, a writer specializing in politics, covers this story for Digital. She leads the platform’s coverage of the Senate, providing the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews, and more political content.
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