Executive Order 10450

United States [1953]

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July 22, 2026

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Executive Order 10450, signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on April 27, 1953, officially banned gay men and lesbians from federal employment. This order was part of the broader "Lavender Scare," a moral panic that coincided with the Red Scare and falsely linked homosexuality with communism and a security risk. The order led to the dismissal of thousands of LGBTQ+ individuals from government jobs, causing significant hardship and financial ruin for many. The ban remained in effect for over two decades, with the Civil Service Commission reversing it in 1975. President Barack Obama fully repealed Executive Order 10450 in 2017.1

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Lavender Scare
The Wherry-Hill and Hoey committees
Dwight Eisenhower signed Executive Order 10450, which officially banned gay men and lesbians, among others, from federal employment. An estimated 5,000 to tens of thousands of gay people lost their jobs, either because they were fired or resigned. Many had difficulty in gaining employment elsewhere and even faced…
Read More
Dwight Eisenhower signed Executive Order 10450, which officially banned gay men and lesbians, among others, from federal employment. An estimated 5,000 to tens of thousands of gay people lost their jobs, either because they were fired or resigned. Many had difficulty in gaining employment elsewhere and even faced…
Read More