Federal employees working in diversity-related roles are being placed on paid leave as the administration of President Donald Trump moves to dismantle all Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives within the federal government.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the decision, saying, “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 directive, outlined in a memo from Acting Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Charles Ezell, requires agency leaders to notify affected employees by 5 p.m. Wednesday. The memo, shared publicly by a CBS correspondent, details plans to terminate DEIA-related contracts, end associated training, and dismantle any online presence promoting such programs.
“To every reporter asking about this: I can gladly confirm!” Leavitt wrote on social media platform X, reposting the CBS reporter’s post.
The policy shift follows Trump’s campaign promises to eliminate diversity initiatives, which he criticized as discriminatory against white individuals, particularly men. Trump also targeted gender diversity policies, including those supporting transgender individuals, asserting they undermined traditional values.
Speaking to a crowd of supporters in Washington on Monday, Trump celebrated his first day back in office by rescinding 78 executive orders, actions, and memoranda from the Biden administration. Among the overturned measures were those advancing diversity and equality in workplaces, healthcare, and federal agencies, along with protections for LGBTQ Americans.
One of the newly issued executive orders declared the end of diversity programs, stating, “The Biden Administration forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI), into virtually all aspects of the Federal Government.”
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The OPM memo, dated Tuesday, characterized DEI programs as divisive and wasteful, claiming they fostered discrimination. Agency leaders are now tasked with identifying and eliminating disguised DEI efforts. Employees are being asked to report changes to contracts or job descriptions made after Election Day 2024 that could obscure DEIA connections.
Failure to comply with reporting requirements “may result in adverse consequences,” the memo warns. It also mandates a list of DEIA offices, employees, and contracts be submitted by Thursday afternoon, with plans for workforce reductions due by Friday evening.
The decision comes as Republican lawmakers and corporations alike roll back diversity efforts that gained momentum following the Black Lives Matter movement. Companies such as Meta, Walmart, Ford, and Harley-Davidson have scaled back minority-focused programs since Trump’s election victory in November.
Critics argue that dismantling DEI programs will reverse progress made toward racial equity and LGBTQ rights, while proponents claim the initiatives created unfair advantages and financial burdens. The Trump administration’s actions mark a decisive step in reshaping federal policies and redefining workplace inclusion across the nation.
