White House orders government DEI employees to be placed on leave

Federal DEI Employees Placed on Paid Administrative Leave Amid New Administration’s Actions

Employees working in federal diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI) offices will be immediately placed on paid administrative leave, according to a statement from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

This move is part of a broader set of actions taken by the new administration, which has made significant strides in addressing and reducing DEI programs, following former President Donald Trump’s pledge to take swift action against these initiatives. Trump had already made cuts to high-profile military personnel and stopped the use of DEI in federal hiring and contracting, with some major corporations also following suit under pressure from conservative critics and customers.

A memo issued by the US Office of Personnel Management on Tuesday instructed federal agencies to notify DEI employees by 5:00 pm EST on Wednesday that they would be placed on administrative leave. The memo emphasized that agencies must begin the process of closing or ending all DEI offices, initiatives, and programs. It also directed the removal of associated websites, social media accounts, and the cancellation of any related training sessions.

This directive follows closely after Trump’s executive order banning DEI programs, which was signed just the day before. During a briefing on Monday, an official discussed the intent of the executive order, which seeks to “dismantle the DEI bureaucracy,” including programs related to environmental justice, equity grants, and action plans.

Additionally, the White House released a fact sheet on Tuesday detailing an order that eliminates the use of DEI in federal contracting. The order aims to streamline the contracting process, enhancing speed and efficiency, while also ensuring contractors comply with civil rights laws. It bars the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs from encouraging contractors to balance their workforce based on factors such as race, sex, gender identity, sexual preference, or religion.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden had expanded DEI protections in government workplaces through various executive orders, broadening them to include groups like pregnant individuals, military spouses, rural communities, and caregivers.

Critics of DEI programs argue that they are discriminatory and attempt to address racial inequality by disadvantaging other groups, particularly White Americans. On the other hand, supporters argue that these programs, which have been in place for decades, have been misrepresented and politicized.

DEI initiatives in major federal agencies include programs at the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, Diversity & Inclusion, and the Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Policy at the Department of Defense. These departments also manage programs that support minority-owned businesses and promote diversity recruitment and training efforts.

The Trump administration’s crackdown on DEI is expected to face numerous legal challenges. Advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have expressed concerns and are preparing for potential legal battles over the administration’s actions, which have already attracted scrutiny from civil rights organizations.