The Trump administration has mandated that all federal employees working in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) roles be placed on paid leave by Wednesday evening, according to a memo from the Office of Personnel Management.
The memo, issued on Tuesday to department and agency heads, sets a deadline of 5 p.m. ET Wednesday for notifying employees of their paid administrative leave. In addition, the memo requires agencies to dismantle all DEI-related offices, programs, websites, and social media accounts. By January 31, agencies are also instructed to submit written plans for dismissing the employees.
President Trump signed an executive order on Monday to terminate what he described as “radical and wasteful” DEI programs in federal agencies. The White House emphasized that the order was in line with Trump’s campaign pledge to eliminate DEI from government operations, aiming to return to a merit-based system focused on skills rather than race.
The number of affected employees remains unclear, with the White House not immediately responding to inquiries. In addition to the DEI order, Trump signed 46 executive orders and actions, including efforts to reverse policies from the Biden administration and pardon participants in the January 6 Capitol riots.
On Tuesday, Trump also signed an executive order aimed at curbing diverse hiring practices at the Federal Aviation Administration, claiming such initiatives unfairly disadvantage applicants who lack specific disabilities or racial backgrounds. This move continues Trump’s earlier efforts to roll back DEI initiatives, including an order he signed in 2020 that prohibited federal DEI programs.
Peoplesmind
