TSA bars all transgender officers from conducting passenger pat-downs (the "February 7 Directive")

TSA leadership issued a directive prohibiting all transgender Transportation Security Officers from conducting security pat-downs of airline passengers, and disallowing their use of TSA-controlled restrooms aligned with their gender identity. Field leadership was supplied a document titled "Leadership Talking Points: Pat-downs Conducted by Transgender Employees," issued "[t]o ensure consistent messaging across airport field leadership regarding transgender employees no longer performing pat-downs," which stated that "[t]o comply with the [EO] 14168" all transgender officers were prohibited from "perform[ing] pat-downs on travelers." Pat-downs are a core TSO duty tied to the Passenger Screening Officer and Floor Officer positions and are prerequisites for the Coaching, Passenger Support Specialist, and ATLAS certifications and for Lead, Instructor, Supervisor, and Manager positions. The directive applies only to transgender officers; no non-transgender TSO was restricted.