The Senate Wednesday confirmed Rachel Levine 52-48 as assistant secretary of Health and Human Services, making her the first openly transgendered person to win approval from lawmakers in the chamber.
“The Biden administration has brought many historic firsts into its ranks,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said Wednesday. “The confirmation of Rachel Levine represents another important milestone for the American LGBTQ community.”
All Democrats and a handful of Republicans voted to confirm Levine, a pediatrician who had served as Pennsylvania’s health secretary since 2017.
Her nomination won approval of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee earlier this month on a vote of 13-9. While Democrats praised her credentials and barrier-breaking nomination, most Republicans voted against Levine.
Levine has come under criticism over Pennsylvania’s handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes, where a policy of requiring nursing homes to accept virus-infected patients led to many deaths.
House Republicans last week questioned Levine on a report that she withheld data on nursing home deaths in Pennsylvania during the pandemic.
Spotlight PA, an independent media publications associated with the Philadelphia Inquirer, found the Pennsylvania Department of Health weekly reports “are consistently missing data for more than 100 of the state’s 693 nursing homes,” and in one case, the omissions “obscured “a deadline outbreak from the public.”
Levine came under intense criticism last year when she removed her own mother from a Pennsylvania nursing home during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Republicans also criticized Levine over her policies regarding transgender rights and the promotion of transgender medical treatment for children.
In a heated exchange at her confirmation hearing, Sen. Rand Paul asked Levine whether she believes children should be able to demand hormone and surgical treatment to change genders, even over the objections of their parents.
Levine has expressed support for the treatments.
“Dr. Levine, do you believe that minors are capable of making such a life-changing decision as changing one’s sex?” the Kentucky Republican asked Levine.
Levine described “a complex and nuanced field” for treating gender dysphoria and pledged to work with Paul to discuss “the particulars of the standards of care for transgender medicine.”
Democrats accused Paul of transphobia, but the issue of transgender rights has split the nation as some states allow transgender students to compete on sports teams and use bathrooms and locker rooms associated with their gender identity.
A March poll found 53% of registered voters support banning transgendered women from competing on women’s sports teams.
Democrats have largely rejected those concerns. On Wednesday, Schumer said Levine’s confirmation would help elevate the profile of transgendered individuals and end discrimination.
“As transgendered Americans suffer high rates of abuse, homelessness, and depression more than any other group,” Schumer said, “it is important to have national figures like Dr. Levine, who by virtue of being in the public spotlight, will help break down barriers of ignorance and fear.”
Democrats praised Levine’s front-line experience dealing with the pandemic, as well as her ascension to be the top-ranking transgendered person in the government.
“She knows firsthand what our communities need from the Department of Health and Human Services,” Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat said.
