Federal DEIA staff on leave, offices to close under Trump order.

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The Trump administration has just thrown a wrench into the federal workforce by ordering all Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) office employees to take paid administrative leave right away. This isn’t just a routine shake-up; it’s a bold move against what they call “discriminatory” diversity programs.

On his return to the White House, President Trump signed an executive order branding these programs as “illegal and immoral.” By Wednesday at 5 p.m. EST, all agencies had to inform these employees of the immediate change. This policy doesn’t just mean a temporary break for these workers; it signals the end of DEIA offices, with all related programs and activities on the chopping block.

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The administration’s aim is to pivot towards a merit-only system, arguing that DEIA initiatives have skewed fairness. They’ve ordered the removal of all DEIA public information, called off any ongoing diversity sessions, and cut ties with any contracts supporting these programs.

The impact is profound. Agencies now have until January 31 to figure out how they’ll downsize the workforce in these areas, which could lead to reassignments or job losses, fundamentally altering how diversity is managed in federal jobs.

What does this mean for diversity in government? Will we see a return to a system where only talent counts, or is this a setback for inclusivity? How will this affect the staff who’ve based their careers on these initiatives? And what kind of precedent is this setting for diversity in the private sector?

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The administration isn’t stopping with government; they’re also nudging private companies, especially those in safety-critical fields, to rethink diversity hiring in favor of skill and achievement.

With these changes, it’s clear the new administration wants to redefine diversity in public service, emphasizing individual merit over identity.

 

Sources:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-admin-orders-all-federal-dei-office-staff-to-be-on-paid-leave/ar-AA1xCTHz

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/news-notification/ar-AA1xCI42

https://www.newsweek.com/trump-admin-orders-all-federal-dei-office-staff-paid-leave-2018674

https://apnews.com/article/dei-trump-executive-order-diversity-834a241a60ee92722ef2443b62572540

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-orders-end-diversity-programs-dei/

https://www.housingwire.com/articles/donald-trump-executive-order-ending-dei-federal-housing-hud-fhfa/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-administration-sidelines-staffers-from-disbanded-deia-offices/ar-AA1xCSBk


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