The Department of Homeland Security quietly updated intelligence guidelines to restore sexual orientation protections the agency had stripped from a key document last month.
The Office of Intelligence and Analysis on Tuesday republished its policy manual with revisions made to prohibit personnel from conducting intelligence activities based solely on a person’s sexual orientation, among other traits such as religion and nationality.
The latest changes partially address concerns that intelligence officials would have license to conduct surveillance of vulnerable groups. They also highlight the frenzied and sometimes slapdash nature of federal agencies’ responses to President Donald Trump’s directives.
The original document, posted at the end of President Joe Biden’s administration, included protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. DHS removed the manual from its website after Trump took office and posted a new version that omitted that language, drawing concern from LGBTQ+ advocates.
DHS Scraps Ban on Surveillance Based on Sexual Orientation
Department officials said at the time that the changes had been made to comply with Trump directives, which include an order to eliminate policies and protections focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion across federal agencies and one declaring that there are two sexes and they cannot be changed.
The latest version of the manual restores the sexual orientation protections but leaves out the gender identity and gender expression language that appeared in the original.
DHS didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Privacy and civil liberties advocates have long viewed the work of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis as particularly sensitive because it focuses on domestic threats, with information collection often involving US citizens. Trump’s pick to lead the office, Matthew Kozma, will likely face questions about the policy manual when the Senate reviews his nomination.
To contact the reporter on this story:
To contact the editors responsible for this story: