President Trump cancels DEI programs at the federal level: details
22 january 2025 в 23:37
President Donald Trump is taking significant steps to eliminate DEI programs at the federal level.
A memorandum from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, issued on Tuesday evening, directs all federal DEI employees to be placed on leave by Wednesday evening.
The term «DEI» stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and «DEIA» adds Accessibility. Under the Biden administration, executive orders were signed to expand protections in the federal workplace, covering groups such as pregnant workers, military spouses, caregivers, and others.
Former President Biden made significant efforts to implement diversity and inclusion practices in the federal workforce, the largest in the country with around 2.4 million employees. These programs included «environmental justice initiatives» and various «equality initiatives». However, the roots of DEI programs trace back to the civil rights movement.
The American Federation of Government Employees, representing 800,000 federal workers, claimed that diversity programs helped reduce gender and racial pay gaps in the federal sector.
The Biden administration also established a Chief Diversity Officer Council to oversee the implementation of the DEI plan. In 2022, the government published its first report on DEI progress, indicating that the federal workforce is approximately 60% white and 55% male overall, with senior leaders being over 75% white and over 60% male.
President Trump’s executive order instructs federal agencies to focus on «individual initiative» rather than «DEI-related factors» in hiring, promotion, and performance evaluation. Trump and other critics have consistently argued that federal DEI programs discriminate against certain groups, including white Americans.
The executive order, published by the White House, describes DEI programs as «illegal and immoral discrimination», - stating that these «diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives» were implemented in virtually all aspects of the federal government.
The Tuesday order also extends beyond federal agencies, instructing the Attorney General to submit within 120 days «recommendations to ensure compliance with federal civil rights laws» and take action to prevent the private sector from engaging in illegal discrimination or DEI practices. Trump also directs the Attorney General to develop a plan to prevent the private sector from adopting or continuing DEI programs.
According to several sources, including the BBC, it is unclear how many federal employees will be affected by Trump’s executive order on DEI.
Under the new order, federal agencies must compile a list of all DEI offices and their employees by Thursday, January 23. By the following Friday, January 31, agencies must submit a «written plan» to begin dismissing employees of DEI programs. According to a sample letter prepared by the OPM, agencies will also include a note for employees stating that their programs «divided Americans by race, spent taxpayer money, and led to shameful discrimination».
According to Government Book Talk, the U.S. government offers over 2,000 federal public assistance programs
A memorandum from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, issued on Tuesday evening, directs all federal DEI employees to be placed on leave by Wednesday evening.
The term «DEI» stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and «DEIA» adds Accessibility. Under the Biden administration, executive orders were signed to expand protections in the federal workplace, covering groups such as pregnant workers, military spouses, caregivers, and others.
Former President Biden made significant efforts to implement diversity and inclusion practices in the federal workforce, the largest in the country with around 2.4 million employees. These programs included «environmental justice initiatives» and various «equality initiatives». However, the roots of DEI programs trace back to the civil rights movement.
The American Federation of Government Employees, representing 800,000 federal workers, claimed that diversity programs helped reduce gender and racial pay gaps in the federal sector.
The Biden administration also established a Chief Diversity Officer Council to oversee the implementation of the DEI plan. In 2022, the government published its first report on DEI progress, indicating that the federal workforce is approximately 60% white and 55% male overall, with senior leaders being over 75% white and over 60% male.
President Trump’s executive order instructs federal agencies to focus on «individual initiative» rather than «DEI-related factors» in hiring, promotion, and performance evaluation. Trump and other critics have consistently argued that federal DEI programs discriminate against certain groups, including white Americans.
The executive order, published by the White House, describes DEI programs as «illegal and immoral discrimination», - stating that these «diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives» were implemented in virtually all aspects of the federal government.
The Tuesday order also extends beyond federal agencies, instructing the Attorney General to submit within 120 days «recommendations to ensure compliance with federal civil rights laws» and take action to prevent the private sector from engaging in illegal discrimination or DEI practices. Trump also directs the Attorney General to develop a plan to prevent the private sector from adopting or continuing DEI programs.
According to several sources, including the BBC, it is unclear how many federal employees will be affected by Trump’s executive order on DEI.
Under the new order, federal agencies must compile a list of all DEI offices and their employees by Thursday, January 23. By the following Friday, January 31, agencies must submit a «written plan» to begin dismissing employees of DEI programs. According to a sample letter prepared by the OPM, agencies will also include a note for employees stating that their programs «divided Americans by race, spent taxpayer money, and led to shameful discrimination».
According to Government Book Talk, the U.S. government offers over 2,000 federal public assistance programs
© Smirnova Olga
