President Trump eliminates federal DEI programs, placing hundreds on leave and canceling $420 million in contracts.
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s executive order terminates all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
- 395 government employees placed on leave; $420 million in DEI-related contracts canceled.
- Elon Musk to lead new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), overseeing transition to merit-based system.
- Federal agencies instructed to dismantle DEI operations and report compliance efforts.
- Order reverses Biden’s previous executive order on racial equity and support for underserved communities.
Trump’s Executive Order Dismantles Federal DEI Programs
In a decisive move, President Donald Trump has issued an executive order eliminating all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. This sweeping action places 395 government bureaucrats on leave and cancels approximately $420 million in DEI-related contracts. The order aims to overturn former President Joe Biden’s DEI policies and shift the federal government back to a merit-based system.
🚨 Donald Trump drops the 🎤 and said we’re in a MERIT based world and a MERIT based country
Innovation doesn’t happen with DEI hires
THIS IS HUGE
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) January 25, 2025
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a newly created entity led by Elon Musk, announced the cancellation of the DEI contracts. This department will oversee the transition away from DEI-focused policies and towards a system based on individual merit.
Implementation and Agency Instructions
The federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued a memo directing all DEI employees to be placed on paid leave. Agency heads have been instructed to take immediate action in response to the executive order, including closing DEIA offices, removing related media, and canceling DEIA-related contracts and trainings.
Agencies are required to report to OPM, detailing the steps taken to implement the memo and providing comprehensive lists of DEIA offices and contracts. This reporting requirement underscores the administration’s commitment to ensuring full compliance with the new directive.
Reversing Previous Policies
Trump’s executive order effectively reverses Biden’s previous order on “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.” This marks a significant shift in federal policy, moving away from DEI-focused initiatives and back towards a system that prioritizes individual merit.
As part of the implementation process, agencies have been directed to inform employees of the DEI shutdown and remove all DEI-related online content. Additionally, they must report any attempts to disguise DEI programs using coded language, ensuring transparency in the transition process.
Additional Executive Actions
The elimination of federal DEI programs is part of a broader set of actions taken by President Trump in his first week in office. These include recognizing only two genders and withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement. Further executive actions were issued to end race and sex-based preferences in the workplace and higher education, as well as eliminating DEI hiring priorities at the Federal Aviation Administration.
These sweeping changes signal a significant shift in federal policy, prioritizing merit-based systems and individual achievement over diversity-focused initiatives. As the implementation of these orders progresses, the impact on federal agencies and their operations will likely become more apparent in the coming months.
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Trump’s federal DEI purge puts hundreds on leave, nixes $420M in contracts
