The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently updated the official portrait of Admiral Richard Levine, the former Biden administration assistant secretary for health. The alteration, which changed the displayed name from Rachel to Richard, coincided with the federal government shutdown and has since elicited a spectrum of public and political responses.
Adrian Shanker, a spokesperson for Levine and a former deputy assistant secretary for health policy under the Biden administration, expressed disapproval of the change, branding it as indicative of pettiness and bigotry. Shanker conveyed to NPR his concerns about the implications of the update on the current HHS leadership's reputation.
Levine, who transitioned in 2011 and is recognized for serving as both assistant secretary for health and a four-star admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service, adopted female pronouns during his tenure and was an advocate for transgender health interventions. The National Women's History Museum notes that Levine's portraits in the Humphrey Building formerly displayed his legal female name.
Defending the portrait name revision, HHS officials under President Donald Trump's administration have justified the action as an alignment with "biological reality," a move representative of broader efforts to ensure HHS communications reflect evidence-based health information. Andrew Nixon, an HHS spokesperson, underscored the department's commitment to revising policies enacted by Levine, which critics argue pose long-term risks.
Levine's role in promoting treatments such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and gender-related surgeries for minors has been a point of contention, with some institutions scaling back such interventions amidst debates on their safety and efficacy.
The portrait change has not escaped political spotlight, with Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) critiquing the decision as a perpetuation of cultural conflicts. Balint, in a video on social media, lamented the reversion to Levine's birth name as an act driven by insecurity.
Amidst these differing opinions, the current assistant secretary for health, Admiral Brian Christine, along with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., remains focused on reinforcing public trust and advancing transparent health policy communications.
Shanker relayed that despite opting not to comment directly, Levine remains unshaken in the belief that the name change does not diminish his professional contributions as a dedicated public servant. This HHS update is part of a series of modifications across federal offices that aim to revise records from the previous administration, reflecting an ongoing review of policies and communications.
