Overview
The Trump administration has ordered federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) employees to be placed on paid leave. This move follows a new executive order to dismantle DEI initiatives within the federal government, marking a significant shift in federal workplace policies.
The Executive Order
President Trump’s executive order, titled "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing," claims that DEI initiatives promoted by the Biden administration fostered discrimination and misused taxpayer money.
The order mandates federal agencies to halt DEI-related activities immediately.
Agencies must also prevent any attempts to rebrand or disguise these programs under alternative terms.
Immediate Impacts
Federal DEI employees must:
Leave their roles by 5 p.m. Wednesday, while retaining full pay and benefits.
Refrain from performing work duties and lose access to official emails.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has instructed agencies to:
Notify DEI staff of the changes.
Remove all promotional DEI materials.
Report compliance with these directives by Thursday.
Future Steps
Agencies are required to submit workforce reduction plans for DEI programs by January 31.
The Justice Department has 120 days to propose ways to discourage DEI initiatives in private organizations and federally funded educational institutions.
Broader Context
This decision aligns with growing conservative criticism of DEI programs, which some see as divisive. Companies like Walmart and Facebook have already scaled back similar initiatives under political and public pressure.
While the order directly affects federal agencies, it does not restrict college and university faculty from advocating for DEI programs.
What's Next?
The federal government will continue dismantling DEI structures while monitoring compliance with the new policy. The administration’s broader aim appears to extend beyond federal workplaces, targeting DEI initiatives in private and educational sectors receiving federal support. This marks a sharp ideological pivot, reshaping how diversity and inclusion are addressed in the U.S. workforce.
ความคิดเห็น