The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Tuesday that it will prohibit employees from using preferred pronouns in their email signatures, as outlined in a memo obtained by the Daily Caller.
This memo describes new guidelines that align with a Presidential Order aimed at “Defending women from gender ideological extremism and restoring biological truths to the federal government” issued by President Donald Trump. (Related: Diversity training rules for law enforcement removing certain terms now off the DOJ website)
“The department is focused on facts as it adheres to the obligations of daily laws and regulations,” the DOJ memo indicates.
Trump DOJ will tell employees to stop using preferred pronouns from August 25th @washtimes @dagtoddblanche pic.twitter.com/lufwsgisy6
-Alex Swoyer (@Aswoyer) August 12, 2025
The memo states that to uphold public trust, all departmental communications should accurately reflect reality. Essentially, they want consistency in how employees communicate in line with the department’s mission.
The DOJ emphasized that a uniform format for email communications can enhance trust in public perception.
Standardized email signature templates help recipients quickly find important contact information while promoting a cohesive and professional appearance across the department.
“Signature blocks should be free from unrelated statements and must not contradict any existing administrative policies,” the memo adds.
The guidelines provide an overview of a standardized email format that does not include preferred pronoun sections.
Instead, the signature block should consist of employee names, positions, email addresses, office locations, room numbers, office phone numbers, mobile numbers, and DOJ logos. (Related: “Don’t respond”: Trump Press SEC confirms it ignores reporters using pronouns in email signatures)
Destruction: DOJ releases new guidance explaining that DEI programs and related methodologies can violate laws if they discriminate based on protected characteristics.
This memo lists “best practices” to avoid legal challenges.
– Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) July 31, 2025
This policy also permits the inclusion of classified email addresses when relevant.
Moreover, it provides three template options to assist employees in formatting their email signatures correctly.
