Trump places Federal DEI employees on leave

Federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officials are going away.

The Trump administration will place them on paid leave by the end of the business day Wednesday, according to a document…

Federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officials are going away.

The Trump administration will place them on paid leave by the end of the business day Wednesday, according to a document from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

“Send a notification to all employees of DEIA offices that they are being placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately as the agency takes steps to close/end all DEIA initiatives, offices, and programs,” the memo says, according to The Daily Wire

The memo came after President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing and Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions.”  

The memo told all agency heads to inform DEI employees they would be put on leave immediately. It also told agency heads to remove all social media pages associated with DEI offices and to “send an agency-wide notice to employees informing them of the closure and asking employees if they know of any efforts to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language.” 

Additionally, agencies will send OPM lists of any DEI-related contracts and DEI offices; they will also cancel any upcoming DEI training. 

“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,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “This is another win for Americans of all races, religions, and creeds. Promises made, promises kept.” 

As Leavitt notes, Trump’s executive order says his administration won’t favor any race over another. 

“Americans deserve a government committed to serving every person with equal dignity and respect and to expending precious taxpayer resources only on making America great,” the executive order said. 

Nearly three dozen Democratic state legislators nationwide signed a letter urging Trump to reverse course. 

“Anti-DEI rhetoric and policy goals are dangerous, destructive, and discriminatory. Ultimately, they erect barriers to our American Dreams,” the lawmakers wrote. “This is why we have joined together to Protect Our Progress from any threats to undo the accomplishments of two hundred years to welcome diversity, expand equity, and encourage inclusion. We do so to defend our freedom to be heard. Your duty is the same as ours – to protect and serve the American people. As we hold ourselves accountable to defending and extending the benefits of DEI, we also hold you accountable to achieving the same goal.”