The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has introduced a new rule that requires employees to use the chosen gender pronouns of their co-workers.

Roger Severino, who once led the HHS civil rights office and now works with the Heritage Foundation, has criticized this policy.

Talking to Fox News Digital, he said that this rule forces employees to say things that aren’t true and that it goes against their rights, including freedom of speech and religion.

Severino, who has a law degree from Harvard, shared this news on X, a social media platform, along with an email that was sent to HHS employees.

This email was about respecting people by using the names and pronouns they prefer.

Severino believes that this is part of a bigger effort by the government to stop discrimination based on gender identity, which started with two decisions by the White House in 2021 and 2022.

The guidance from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management says that using the right names and pronouns can make the workplace better and more respectful for everyone.

It says that accidentally using the wrong name or pronoun isn’t a big problem, but doing it on purpose over and over could be seen as creating a bad work environment.

Severino explains that this kind of mistake could get someone fired because it’s considered discrimination.

He also discussed a video from HHS that talks about gender identity.

In it, Assistant HHS Secretary Rachel Levine, who is transgender, says that being true to who you are is important.

The new rules also say that employees can dress according to their gender identity and use the bathrooms they choose.

Severino pointed out that this means men who see themselves as women could undress in women’s locker rooms, which he says used to be considered a clear violation of women’s rights at work.

Now, if women are uncomfortable with this, they are the ones who have to leave.

Severino called the policy “Orwellian” and was shocked that the current administration would put it in place.

He believes that employees could legally fight back against this policy because the government shouldn’t force people to say things that aren’t true.

He compared it to a case from World War II where the Supreme Court said that students and parents don’t have to say the pledge of allegiance if they don’t want to.

Severino said this is like being forced to support a view they don’t agree with.

He also said that workers should be able to keep their religious beliefs at work and not be forced to go against them just to keep their jobs.

Severino has heard from current employees that this rule is making them choose between hiding their beliefs to stay employed or standing up against the policy and risking their jobs.

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