The Trump administration has announced that all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officials will be placed on paid administrative leave by the close of business Wednesday, according to a memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

The directive follows President Donald Trump’s executive order, titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing and Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions.” The memo instructs executive agency leaders to inform DEI employees of their immediate placement on leave as the government begins dismantling DEI-related initiatives, offices, and programs.

“Send a notification to all employees of DEIA offices that they are being placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately as the agency takes steps to close/end all DEIA initiatives, offices, and programs,” the OPM memo states.

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to eliminating DEI efforts, stating, “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. This is another win for Americans of all races, religions, and creeds. Promises made, promises kept.”

The memo also requires agencies to deactivate all social media accounts tied to DEIA offices and issue a notice to employees warning against attempts to rebrand or disguise such programs using ambiguous language. Additionally, agencies are to provide OPM with a detailed list of DEIA-related contracts and offices, and cancel any scheduled DEIA training sessions.

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A template email included in the OPM memo criticizes DEI initiatives under the previous administration, claiming they “divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination.”

The Trump administration’s move is part of an effort to reverse policies implemented during President Joe Biden’s tenure, which embedded DEI ideologies and personnel across the federal government. A study by the group Do No Harm identified at least 500 actions taken by the Biden administration to promote DEI within the executive branch.

During Biden’s presidency, reports revealed that intelligence agencies endorsed activities such as painting nails in transgender flag colors, State Department officials promoted Critical Race Theory abroad, and the National Security Agency highlighted concepts like “white fragility” and “transmisogyny.” Meanwhile, DEI advocacy groups within federal agencies often operated as activist hubs, according to investigations by The Daily Wire.

Furthermore, external organizations were awarded significant government contracts to support DEI initiatives. For example, the Pentagon partnered with a public university to develop a race-based career pipeline program, while a think tank was engaged to mitigate resistance to these ideologies.

This latest order from the Trump administration aims to return federal operations to what it calls a “merit-based” system, emphasizing qualifications over identity.

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