– The White House confirmed Tuesday that all federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) workers must be placed on leave by 5 p.m. EST on Wednesday, with the affected offices and programs scheduled for closure.
This directive follows an executive order signed by President Trump earlier in the day, which described DEI initiatives as “dangerous, demeaning, and immoral.” The order requires federal agencies to terminate all DEI-related offices, positions, and programs within 60 days.
The move has drawn sharp criticism and support, highlighting deep divisions over the role of DEI initiatives in addressing workplace discrimination and representation.
Scope and Impact
It remains unclear how many employees are affected by the order. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing 800,000 federal workers, expressed concern over the scope and potential consequences of the mandate.
A memo from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management instructed agencies to submit plans for layoffs by the end of January. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the memo’s authenticity, stating the administration’s commitment to promoting a “merit-based and colorblind” society.
The executive order also called for federal hiring and promotions to prioritize individual initiative rather than DEI-related factors. Additionally, it revoked a civil rights-era executive order signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, which prohibited federal contractors from discriminating based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Reactions
Critics warned the changes could undermine decades of progress in workplace diversity and discrimination prevention. Alvin Tillery, a political scientist and co-founder of the 2040 Strategy Group, said revoking Johnson’s order could allow companies to bypass diversity standards while seeking federal contracts.
“It could also eliminate training programs aimed at curbing discrimination or reinforcing positive workplace behavior,” said Les Alderman, a Washington, D.C.-based civil rights attorney.
Unions representing federal employees condemned the decision. AFGE argued that DEI programs have helped reduce gender and racial pay disparities in the federal workforce. National Federation of Federal Workers President Randy Erwin called the move “an attack on non-partisan civil servants.”
Conservative Support
Conservative groups praised the order as a step toward a colorblind society. Yukong Mike Zhao, president of the Asian American Coalition for Education, hailed the decision as a milestone in civil rights progress. “Affirmative action and woke DEI programs are racism in disguise,” Zhao told The New York Times.
The private sector has also seen changes, with companies like Walmart, McDonald’s, and Meta scaling back DEI programs, while others, including Apple and Target, continue to defend them.
While analysts acknowledge the challenges faced by DEI initiatives, such as limited resources, many fear the shutdown will erase hard-fought gains. “Now we’re going to go to zero,” said Tillery.
The decision marks a contentious turning point in the national conversation about equity and representation in public and private institutions.
