
President Trump orders federal DEI employees on paid leave, signaling the end of diversity initiatives in government.
Quick Takes
- Trump administration directs all federal DEI staff to be put on immediate paid leave
- Agencies instructed to remove DEI-related media, cancel trainings, and terminate contracts
- OPM requests plans for reducing DEI office staff by month’s end
- Executive order aims to dismantle DEI programs, labeling them as discriminatory and wasteful
- Private sector also scaling back DEI efforts following Supreme Court ruling on college admissions
Trump Administration Takes Decisive Action on DEI
In a sweeping move, the Trump administration has ordered federal employees working on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to be placed on paid leave. This directive, issued through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), marks a significant shift in federal policy regarding workplace diversity programs. The OPM has instructed federal departments to notify DEI program employees of their immediate administrative leave, effectively halting these initiatives across the government.
The executive order goes beyond staffing changes. Agencies are now directed to remove all DEI-related media, cancel diversity training sessions, and terminate contracts related to these programs. This comprehensive approach aims to swiftly dismantle the infrastructure of federal DEI efforts.
Federal employees in diversity, equity and inclusion roles will be placed on paid leave Wednesday as their offices are being ordered to shut down after Trump’s executive orders https://t.co/wOERmI0VCo
— Bloomberg (@business) January 22, 2025
Crackdown on Disguised DEI Programs
In a move to ensure full compliance, the OPM has set a January 31 deadline for agencies to report any attempts to disguise DEI programs with vague language. This measure reflects the administration’s determination to root out all forms of these initiatives, even those potentially hidden under different names. The directive carries a stern warning: employees who fail to report renamed DEI programs may face adverse consequences.
Furthermore, the OPM has requested “a written plan” from agencies for reducing DEI office staff by the end of the month. This request underscores the administration’s intent to not only pause but potentially eliminate these positions entirely.
Trump’s Stance on DEI and Merit-Based Hiring
The directive follows President Trump’s executive order to dismantle DEI programs, which he has labeled as discriminatory and wasteful. This action aligns with his campaign promise to end what his administration describes as a “far-left social experiment” within the federal government. The President has also ordered a return to merit-based hiring practices in key departments such as Transportation and the FAA.
“President Trump campaigned on ending the scourge of DEI from our federal government and returning America to a merit based society where people are hired based on their skills, not for the color of their skin,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The administration’s stance is clear: DEI programs have “divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination.” This perspective represents a significant departure from previous policies and signals a return to more traditional hiring and workplace practices in federal agencies.
Broader Implications and Private Sector Trends
The impact of this executive order extends beyond the federal government. Following a recent Supreme Court ruling on race in college admissions, many private sector companies have also begun scaling back their DEI initiatives. Major corporations like Meta, Amazon, McDonald’s, and Walmart have reportedly reduced their DEI efforts, indicating a broader shift in corporate America’s approach to diversity programs.
As the federal government takes the lead in dismantling DEI programs, it remains to be seen how this will influence state and local governments, as well as private businesses, in their approach to workplace diversity and inclusion policies. The move has sparked debates about the effectiveness and necessity of DEI programs, with supporters and critics closely watching the outcomes of this significant policy shift.
NEW: Joy Reid and Elie Mystal freak out over Trump's sweeping DEI cuts in the federal government, say there will be "unconscionable pain" because of this.
I can't tell which one is Joy Reid.
"It’s particularly evil to… I always think of prisoners, people who are incarcerated… pic.twitter.com/929lvyXu14
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 22, 2025