The Department of Health and Human Services has altered the name on the official portrait of Rachel Levine.
Levine, who served for years as Joe Biden’s assistant secretary for health, is a transgender woman who has long been the subject of mockery for his somewhat unconvincing gender transition.
The 68-year-old, who is a biological male, has had his portrait displayed in the hallway since he was confirmed to the position in 2021.
The portrait remains in situ, although NPR is now reporting that its name has been altered to Richard Levine.
The change was reportedly confirmed by a spokesperson for the agency.
Adrian Shanker, who worked as a former deputy assistant secretary for health policy in the Biden administration and now represents Levine and his spokesperson, denounced the move as an act “of bigotry against her.”
“During the federal shutdown, the current leadership of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health changed Admiral Levine’s photo to remove her current legal name and use a prior name,” he complained.
Levine, meanwhile, told the outlet that he was honored to have served in the world and refused to comment on this “type of petty action.”
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said that the change was intended to reflect biological realities.
“Our priority is ensuring that the information presented internally and externally by HHS reflects gold standard science,” he said in a statement.
”We remain committed to reversing harmful policies enacted by Levine and ensuring that biological reality guides our approach to public health.”
HHS just updated Rachel Levine’s official portrait to his real biological name: Richard
An HHS spokesperson said: “We remain committed to reversing harmful policies enacted by Levine and ensuring that biological reality guides our approach to public health.” pic.twitter.com/WqAINg1nX9
— Nicolas Hulscher, MPH (@NicHulscher) December 6, 2025
During his time in office, Levine was known for championing child sex changes and other forms of fake and potentially harmful policies.
Just last year, he released a statement claiming that so-called climate change was damaging the health of America’s black communities.
“Climate change is having a disproportional effect on the physical and mental health of black communities,” he said in a statement celebrating Black History Month.
”Black Americans are more likely than white Americans to live in areas and housing that increase their susceptibility to climate-related health issues.”
Admiral “Rachel” Levine: “Climate change is having a disproportionate effect on black communities.”
I wish this was satire. It’s real. pic.twitter.com/Y9rNhnIcdP
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 16, 2024
