U.S. Senator Steve Daines, along with several Republican colleagues, has formally challenged new guidance from the Biden administration that they claim undermines religious protections and poses risks to women’s safety in the workplace.
In a letter addressed to President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, the senators criticized the “Gender Identity Non-Discrimination and Inclusion Policy for Employees and Applicants.” They argue that the guidance compels federal employees to use individuals’ “preferred pronouns” and allows men to access women’s spaces, under threat of termination.
“We write out of deep concern over guidance you issued entitled ‘Gender Identity Non-Discrimination and Inclusion Policy for Employees and Applicants,’” the letter states. “Failure to use the preferred names and pronouns can contribute to an unlawful hostile work environment.” The guidance notably does not require individuals to provide legal documentation for name or gender changes, allowing anyone to change their name or pronouns without formal verification.
The senators expressed particular alarm over the guidance’s stance on the use of restrooms and other personal care spaces. They emphasized that including lactation rooms in this policy is inappropriate, asserting that “males cannot breastfeed their children,” and accusing the administration of promoting a “radical agenda” within federal workplaces.
Daines was joined by Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in this effort to push back against the administration’s policies. The lawmakers are calling for a reconsideration of the guidance, arguing it threatens both religious freedoms and the safety of women in federal spaces.
By: DNU staff