Trump Dismantles Federal Diversity and Inclusion Programs, Orders DEI Staff Put on Leave

Trump has ordered all DEI staff in federal agencies to be put on leave. This directive is part of a sweeping executive order aimed at eliminating DEI-related initiatives and policies, which the administration claims promote “discrimination” under the guise of equity.

The executive order gives federal agencies 60 days to eliminate all offices, roles, and initiatives dedicated to DEI. In addition, it mandates that staff currently employed in DEI positions be placed on indefinite leave, effectively sidelining those who had been working to implement and oversee diversity programs in the federal workforce.

Trump’s executive order accuses former President Joe Biden of embedding DEI programs “into virtually all aspects of the federal government” and outlines steps to dismantle these efforts. Among the major directives:

1. Elimination of DEI Offices and Staff: All diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and positions in federal agencies must be closed within 60 days, and DEI staff are to be put on leave as the programs are phased out.
2. Review of Federal Spending: A government-wide review of grants, contracts, and programs will determine whether they align with the administration’s new anti-DEI stance. Programs prioritizing marginalized communities may face cuts or termination.
3. End to DEI Training and Policies: Anti-bias training, diversity-related hiring practices, and other initiatives designed to promote inclusion will be scrapped.
4. Settlement of Lawsuits: Federal agencies are encouraged to resolve ongoing lawsuits challenging programs that offer benefits to historically underserved communities.

Under Biden, agencies were required to create annual diversity plans, provide progress reports, and track demographic trends in hiring and promotions. The administration also established a Chief Diversity Officers Council to oversee these efforts. Trump’s executive order terminates these plans and halts related programs, effectively reversing years of progress.

The order also revives policies from Trump’s first term, including a ban on anti-bias training that addressed concepts like systemic racism and privilege. While Biden rescinded that ban on his first day in office, Trump’s return to anti-DEI policies comes amid growing conservative opposition to diversity initiatives in the corporate world.

Prominent companies such as Walmart and Facebook have already scaled back or ended DEI programs in response to legal challenges and changing political winds. Trump’s new order leverages this momentum to roll back diversity efforts at the federal level.