Trump administration has mandated that all federal employees involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) roles be placed on paid leave, as outlined in a recent memo from the Office of Personnel Management.
This memo, distributed to department and agency heads on Tuesday, requires that employees be notified of their paid administrative leave by 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, coinciding with the agencies' plans to dismantle all DEI-related offices and programs, as well as to eliminate associated websites and social media accounts.
Also , federal agencies are instructed to provide a written plan by January 31 for the termination of these employees.
On Monday, President Donald Trump enacted an executive order aimed at abolishing what he termed "radical and wasteful" DEI programs within federal agencies, directing the closure of DEI offices and initiatives.
White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt stated that " this move fulfills Trump's campaign promise to eradicate DEI from the federal government, advocating for a merit-based hiring system that prioritizes skills over race. "
Trump signed 46 executive orders and actions on Monday addressing various campaign commitments, including the reversal of Biden-era border policies and the pardoning of individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riots.
On Tuesday, he further targeted diverse hiring practices at the Federal Aviation Administration, claiming that such initiatives disadvantage qualified Americans who do not meet specific diversity criteria.