Trump Administration Orders Federal DEI Offices Shut Down

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has ordered all federal employees in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) roles to be placed on paid leave by Wednesday evening, according to a memo issued by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The directive, sent Tuesday to department and agency heads, sets a 5 p.m. ET deadline for notifying affected employees as agencies prepare to close DEI-related offices and programs.

President Donald Trump, who campaigned on ending DEI initiatives, described the move as a step toward creating a merit-based society. “President Trump campaigned on ending the scourge of DEI from our federal government and returning America to a merit-based society where people are hired based on their skills, not for the color of their skin,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement Tuesday night. “This is another win for Americans of all races, religions, and creeds. Promises made, promises kept.”

The memo also requires federal agencies to submit a written plan for executing a reduction-in-force action regarding DEI employees by Jan. 31. The number of employees affected remains unclear.

This decision follows Trump’s 2020 executive order prohibiting federal DEI programs, which was later reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021. The Biden administration had expanded DEI initiatives, citing their importance in fostering equitable environments for historically marginalized communities.

Critics argue that the move undermines efforts to address systemic inequities. Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, called the policy a step backward. “Dr. King had a dream, and this is his nightmare: the rollback of the work of our civil and human rights coalition over the past 75 years,” she said in a statement.

DEI programs, which gained momentum during the racial justice movements of 2020, have faced increasing scrutiny from conservative groups. Trump’s order aligns with broader efforts to roll back DEI initiatives across federal agencies, schools, and businesses.

Civil rights organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, have vowed to challenge the administration’s actions. “We are not going anywhere,” said Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson, “and we will fight back against these harmful provisions with everything we’ve got.”