U.S. President Truman Creates Loyalty-Security Program

President Truman issues Executive Order 9835 and creates the Loyalty-Security Program. Under the order, officials were permitted to investigate any federal government employee suspected of disloyalty or engaging in subversive activities. This led to the dismissal from federal employment in the 1950s and 1960s of thousands of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals who were deemed “national security risks” because of their sexuality.

1947-03-21