Headline
Title: Trump Halts Federal DEI Initiatives, Places Staff on Temporary Leave
President Trump's Administration Dissolves Federal DEI Offices and Places Staff on Paid Leave
Introduction
Following through on his promise to combat perceived discriminatory programs, President Donald Trump's administration issued a directive on Tuesday evening to shut down all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices and place staff members responsible for these initiatives on paid leave. The orders emanated from executive actions signed by the president on Jan. 21, 2025.
Key Details
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) disseminated a memo to federal agencies, guiding them on enacting Trump's executive order to dismantle federal diversity initiatives. The memo stipulates that heads of federal agencies must place all DEI staffers on administrative leave by 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Additionally, agencies are ordered to share a list of DEI offices, employees, agency contracts, and position descriptions altered since November 5, following the presidential election.
Agency Staffers' Notification
A template provided by the OPM outlines required notices for agency staffers. Notifications explain the closure of "all agency DEIA offices and end all DEIA-related contracts." Staffers are informed that the move is aimed at dismantling programs that divide Americans by race, waste taxpayer dollars, and foster discriminatory practices. The notice also addresses the administration's awareness of attempts to disguise these programs using coded or imprecise language and encourages reporting such instances within ten days.
Background Information
Shortly after assuming office on Jan. 21, 2025, Trump signed several executive orders, including one titled "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing." The order categorized federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs as illegal and immoral discrimination initiatives, called for eliminating such programs, and discouraged federal agencies from considering diversity during hiring processes.
Further Reading
- Trump Disbands Federal DEI Programs with Executive Order: Complete List of Affected Organizations (Our Website)
The Trump administration's directive to shut down DEI offices resulted in the placement of responsible staff on paid leave, as mentioned in the 'President Trump's Administration Dissolves Federal DEI Offices and Places Staff on Paid Leave' headline. Under the Trump dei administration, diverse initiatives faced a significant overhaul, with many initiatives placed on hold or discontinued.
The Trump dei executive orders, including "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing," aimed to dismantle federal diversity programs deemed illegal and immoral, impacting various initiatives and contractual arrangements.
