Following Trump’s executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has paused all special events related to heritage and cultural observances, including Black History Month, Juneteenth, Pride Month, and Holocaust Remembrance Days, according to a memo obtained by ABC News.
The memo, dated January 28, 2025, outlines the suspension of multiple annual observances, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Women’s History Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Despite being included in the list of paused programs, the memo clarifies that Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth will remain federal holidays.
A DIA spokesperson, Lt. Cmdr. Seth Clarke, confirmed that the agency is working with the Department of Defense (DoD) to comply with the new executive orders. “As we receive additional guidance, we will continue to update our internal guidance,” Clarke said in a statement to ABC News.
The decision comes just days before Black History Month, which begins on February 1. The order also affects Agency Resource Groups, Affinity Groups, and Employee Networking Groups, which have been paused “effective immediately and until further notice.”
Trump’s executive orders have aimed to dismantle DEI initiatives, with the White House arguing that these programs “create and then amplify prejudicial hostility and exacerbate interpersonal conflict.” The move has drawn criticism from civil rights organizations and diversity advocates, who argue that DEI programs are essential for fostering inclusion and representation within government agencies and the military.
With the Pentagon’s intelligence branch now enforcing these new policies, it remains to be seen how other federal agencies and military branches will respond to the broader rollback of DEI initiatives under the Trump administration.
