A new executive order signed on Tuesday ends diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in federal agencies. President Donald Trump ends federal diversity programs by directing the immediate placement of all DEI employees on paid administrative leave.
Immediate Implementation of New Policies
The White House announced that all DEI staff must be on leave by 5:00 PM EST (10:00 PM GMT) Wednesday. Following this, the associated offices and programs will close. The executive order, issued on the same day, described DEI initiatives as “dangerous, demeaning, and immoral.”
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents 800,000 federal workers, stated the exact number of affected employees remains unknown. Since his inauguration, Trump has taken swift unilateral action on key promises, including dismantling DEI programs. In his inaugural address, he emphasized creating a “color-blind and merit-based society.”
An earlier executive order mandated that all DEI-related offices, positions, and programs be disbanded within 60 days. DEI programs aim to increase workplace participation among individuals from diverse backgrounds. Advocates argue these initiatives address historical underrepresentation and discrimination. Critics, however, claim they perpetuate discrimination themselves.
Federal Agencies Ordered to Act
On Tuesday, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management instructed agency leaders to place DEI staff on leave. A memo, confirmed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, required agencies to submit plans for layoffs by month’s end. The executive order labeled DEI and DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility) policies as “illegal” and contrary to U.S. law. It stated these programs risk violating civil rights laws meant to prevent discrimination.
The order demands federal hiring, promotions, and evaluations reward individual initiative rather than DEI-related factors. It also tasks the U.S. attorney general with proposing measures within 120 days to encourage the private sector to end similar programs. Furthermore, the order rescinds a civil-rights-era directive by President Lyndon B. Johnson, which prohibited federal contractors from discriminating based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The directive’s later amendments, covering sexual orientation and gender identity, are also revoked.
Experts warn the repeal could lead to significant changes. Alvin Tillery, a political scientist and co-founder of the 2040 Strategy Group, said federal contractors could now avoid complying with diversity standards. Les Alderman, a civil rights lawyer, noted the potential elimination of training to address discrimination or reinforce positive behaviors. “People may misunderstand what discrimination looks like, leading to real consequences,” Alderman explained.
Strong Reactions to the Executive Order
Unions representing federal employees condemned Trump’s actions. The AFGE argued that diversity programs helped reduce racial and gender pay disparities in the federal workforce. The union expressed concerns that Trump’s policies could turn hiring decisions into political loyalty tests. National Federation of Federal Workers president Randy Erwin called the order an attempt to intimidate non-partisan civil servants.
Conservative supporters praised the move as progress. Yukong Mike Zhao, president of the Asian American Coalition for Education, described DEI programs as “racism in disguise” and hailed the executive order as a step toward a colorblind society. Meanwhile, several major U.S. companies, including Walmart and McDonald’s, have recently scaled back DEI initiatives. Others, such as Apple and Costco, continue to support them.
Alvin Tillery expressed concern about the broader implications. He described the Biden administration’s efforts to expand DEI roles as underfunded and ineffective but criticized the current approach. “These programs had limited resources, but now we’re left with nothing,” Tillery concluded.