A Department of Homeland Security unit eliminated policies prohibiting personnel from conducting intelligence activities based solely on a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation.
The Office of Intelligence and Analysis posted an updated policy manual late last week that removes references to those characteristics in sections that set guardrails on gathering intelligence.
The revisions follow President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 directive to scrap policies and protections focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion across federal agencies. I&A’s work has attracted close scrutiny for years because of its domestic focus, with intelligence often involving US citizens and others in the country.
A DHS spokesperson said the document was taken down and reposted after the text was changed to comply with Trump’s executive orders.
I&A initially posted the policy manual at the end of President Joe Biden’s administration in an effort to improve transparency in the troubled office. It disappeared from I&A’s website weeks ago without explanation, sparking concerns from Democrats and civil liberties advocates.
Trump’s DHS Intel Unit Buries Manual Touted for Transparency
The re-posted version makes changes to provisions that bar I&A officials from conducting intelligence activities based solely on a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation, or requires an extra layer of oversight for intelligence materials focused on such groups. The revised language preserves protections based on sex, religion, nationality, and other factors. It also strikes “gender expression” and “sexual orientation” from a provision addressing workplace discrimination.
The new version also omits an attached document laying out older intelligence oversight guidelines, though that file is available elsewhere on I&A’s website.
(Updates with DHS response in fourth paragraph.)
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