The federal government, under the direction of President Trump, initiated a swift and comprehensive dismantling of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) programs across all federal agencies. Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Charles Ezell, issued a memorandum outlining a stringent timeline and specific actions for agency heads to implement. This rapid dismantling reflects a significant shift in federal policy, prioritizing a departure from DEIA initiatives. The memo serves as a formal directive, outlining the steps necessary for complete eradication of these programs within a matter of days.
The memo mandated a phased approach to the closure of DEIA offices and programs. Initially, agency heads were required to issue agency-wide notices informing all employees of the impending closures and requesting their cooperation in identifying any attempts to conceal DEIA programs through the use of coded language or other obfuscation tactics. Concurrently, employees specifically assigned to DEIA offices were to be placed on paid administrative leave, effective immediately, pending the complete shutdown of these initiatives. This swift action signals the administration’s commitment to immediate cessation of DEIA-related activities.
Further reinforcing the administration’s commitment to eliminating DEIA programs, the memo directed agencies to immediately remove all publicly facing DEIA materials from websites and social media platforms. This action aimed to swiftly erase the public presence of these programs. Additionally, all documents, directives, orders, materials, and equity plans issued in response to the now-repealed Executive Order 14035, which established DEIA guidelines within the federal workforce, were to be withdrawn. This comprehensive approach ensures a complete reversal of previous DEIA-focused policies.
The memo also mandated the immediate cancellation of all DEIA-related training programs and the termination of contracts with external vendors providing DEIA services. This action extended the dismantling efforts beyond internal programs to encompass external partnerships. To ensure compliance and facilitate oversight, agency heads were instructed to submit comprehensive lists of DEIA offices, affected employees, and associated contracts to the OPM. This data collection process aimed to provide a clear picture of the scope of DEIA programs across the federal government and to track the progress of their dismantling.
The required submission of plans for workforce reductions related to DEIA staff further emphasizes the permanence of these closures. Agencies were tasked with outlining strategies for managing the personnel implications of the program terminations. This directive demonstrates the administration’s intent to go beyond merely suspending DEIA initiatives and implement a structural change within the federal government. The request for detailed information on position descriptions modified since November 5, 2024, suggests a focus on identifying and reversing any attempts to integrate DEIA principles into other roles within the federal workforce.
This rapid dismantling of DEIA programs follows President Trump’s signing of an executive order explicitly eliminating such initiatives from the federal government. This action represents a significant departure from previous administrations’ focus on diversity and inclusion. The executive order, coupled with the OPM memo, signifies a fundamental shift in the administration’s approach to workforce composition and management. This policy change reflects a broader ideological stance and prioritizes a different set of values within the federal government. The swiftness and comprehensiveness of the actions taken underscore the administration’s commitment to this new direction.
