Sponsors (6)
The bill protects federal employees' and contractors' refusal to use others' preferred pronouns and creates expedited, court‑enforceable remedies, but in doing so increases litigation risk and costs, and may reduce workplace inclusion for transgender and gender‑diverse people while imposing administrative strain on agencies.
Federal employees and government contractors will not be compelled by federally funded policies to use coworkers' preferred pronouns or non-legal names, protecting their refusal to speak in ways they object to.
Affected federal employees and contractors gain a private legal remedy — ability to seek damages (including awards up to specified amounts) and injunctive relief in court — giving them enforceable rights against agencies that violate the rule.
Federal agencies must follow a clear, time‑bound complaint response procedure (30 days), which can speed resolution for complainants and reduce prolonged uncertainty after an alleged violation.
Transgender and gender‑diverse federal employees and contractors may face reduced workplace inclusion and respect because the bill restricts agency policies that encourage use of preferred pronouns or non‑legal names.
Narrow statutory definitions of sex (limited to biological male/female) risk excluding gender identity, creating administrative confusion and increasing discrimination claims by those whose identities are not recognized.
Taxpayers and agencies could face increased litigation costs and liability exposure from private lawsuits and damage awards (up to the bill's specified amounts), shifting financial burden to the public sector.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Blocks federal funds from enforcing policies that compel federal employees or contractors to use preferred pronouns or non-legal names; allows affected workers to sue agencies.
Prohibits the use of federal funds to enforce any federal rule, policy, guidance, recommendation, or memorandum that requires federal employees or contractors to use a person’s preferred pronouns if those pronouns are declared incompatible with that person’s sex, or to call someone by a name other than their legal name. Creates a 30-day agency response requirement after written notice of an alleged violation and gives affected federal employees and contractors a private right of action with injunctive relief, compensatory damages, capped punitive damages, and attorney fees; lawsuits must be filed within one year. Defines “male,” “female,” and “sex” as biological sex (male or female) and defines “person” as a natural person. The bill does not authorize new program funding or broader personnel policy changes beyond these prohibitions and enforcement mechanics.
Official title: To prohibit the use of funds to implement, administer, or enforce measures requiring certain employees to refer to an individual by the preferred pronouns of such individual or a name other than the legal name of such individual, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 29, 2026 by Andy Ogles · Last progress April 29, 2026