Originally at yahoo.com
The Trump White House has issued sweeping directives to dismantle diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives across the federal government, sparking controversy and fears of widespread job losses among civil servants. The change in posture mirrors proposals written in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 plan, which Donald Trump denied any knowledge of before he was reelected.
In a memo distributed Tuesday by Acting Office of Personnel Management Director Charles Ezell, agency heads were ordered to shutter DEIA offices, terminate related contracts, and place employees working on DEIA initiatives on administrative leave. The memo follows executive orders signed by Trump on his first day back in office, titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” and “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions.”
The administration’s orders rescind the 2021 executive order issued by former President Joe Biden that established DEIA initiatives in the federal workforce. “These programs divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination,” an email template in the memo states.
Federal agencies must submit detailed plans to OPM by January 31 for executing reduction-in-force actions — government terminology for layoffs — against DEIA employees. The memo also requires agencies to end contracts and investigate whether contracts or job descriptions were altered after November 5 to conceal DEIA connections. “We are aware of efforts by some in government to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language,” the memo says, urging employees to report any such changes within 10 days.
The White House has also ordered federal agencies to provide a list of probationary employees and recommendations on their job status by Friday. Reuters reports that the administration imposed a hiring freeze, retracted most pending job offers, and instructed agencies to remove job postings from federal employment boards. Exceptions include roles in immigration enforcement, national security, public safety, the military, and the U.S. Postal Service.
Before Trump won reelection, as it became clear that Republicans would be back in political power, the corporate sector began rolling back their policies. Several major companies, including Amazon, Meta, and Walmart, have scaled back diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, citing political and legal shifts. Amazon removed policies supporting transgender employees and pledges to combat racial bias. Meta disbanded its DEI team, while McDonald’s retired aspirational representation goals and DEI supplier requirements.
Tuesday’s measure is a continuation of Trump’s assault on marginalized people. On Monday, Trump signed an executive order titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism,” which declares the federal government will no longer recognize transgender or nonbinary identities. “It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female,” the order states, mandating changes to identification documents and rescinding protections for transgender individuals in federally funded institutions.
References to LGBTQ+ identities and HIV-related resources have also been removed from federal websites, including the White House, Department of Labor, State Department, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Read the Original Story
