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Trump Administration Claims Some Federal Employees are Attempting to Conceal DEI Initiatives


A memo distributed on Wednesday indicated that there would be ‘negative repercussions’ for not reporting obfuscated programs.

On Wednesday, the Trump administration released memos urging federal employees to report any attempts by agencies to conceal diversity programs. This move followed his directive for employees involved with such programs to be placed on paid leave.

The memo, shared with multiple federal agencies, highlighted that certain departments are attempting to hide various initiatives related to “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility” (DEIA).

“We are aware of efforts by some in the government to mask these programs using coded or vague language,” stated the memo. “There will be no adverse consequences for timely reporting of this information.”

However, it cautioned, “Failure to report this information within 10 days will lead to adverse consequences.” The memo did not specify what penalties might be imposed on violators.

The memo was sent to employees of various departments and attributed to several members of Trump’s cabinet. For instance, it originated from Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the State Department, Acting Attorney General James McHenry at the Department of Justice, Acting Secretary Benjamin Huffman at the Department of Homeland Security, and NASA chief Janet Petro.
A similar directive was issued by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) earlier this week, specifying that by no later than 5 p.m. ET on January 31, agency officials must submit a “plan for executing a reduction-in-force action regarding the employees working in a DEIA office.”

“Agencies are expected to collaborate with OPM in crafting these plans,” it noted, specifying that they must include “a list of all contract descriptions or personnel position descriptions altered since November 5, 2024 to obscure their association with DEIA programs.”

The OPM directive also provided the same email template that federal employees received on Wednesday.

“These programs have divided Americans by race, misallocated taxpayer funding, and resulted in unacceptable discrimination,” the email template expressed.

The Trump administration has initiated additional measures to eliminate DEI from the federal sphere. On his first day back in office, Trump enacted an executive order aimed at dismantling DEI “mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, regardless of their label.”

On Tuesday, the president ordered that all federal DEI employees be placed on leave by Wednesday afternoon and that all social media accounts and websites related to DEI policies be removed. Agencies were also instructed to terminate all DEI-required training programs and dismiss contracted workers involved.
In addition to the Trump administration’s stance on DEI, numerous major U.S. corporations have recently scaled back or eliminated DEI-related divisions, policies, and commitments. Companies such as Walmart, Amazon, Meta Platforms, McDonald’s, Lowe’s, and John Deere have taken these steps, although some boards—including Costco—have indicated a desire to maintain their company’s DEI policies.

DEI policies aim to create an organizational atmosphere that proponents claim diminishes discrimination based on identity or disability and enhances representation for groups that have historically faced discrimination.

Critics, including Trump during his Monday inaugural address, argue that these policies create divisions based on race, gender, and other characteristics. A study published in 2024 suggested that DEI training may actually heighten prejudice within organizations, particularly against white individuals. Such policies gained momentum in both corporate America and the government following extensive protests in 2020 after the death of a Black man in police custody.
In response to Trump’s stance on DEI, several Democratic officials nationwide signed an open letter defending these policies.

“The rhetoric against DEI and its associated policy goals is both perilous and discriminatory. In the end, it erects barriers to our aspirations as Americans,” the letter maintained. “As we strive to uphold and extend the advantages of DEI, we will also hold you accountable for the same.”

Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, remarked that Trump’s decisions serve as a “distraction aimed at dismissing civil servants, undermining the nonpartisan civil service, and transforming the federal government into a network of loyalists to the president rather than the Constitution.”

The Epoch Times reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and NASA for comments but did not receive any response by the time of publication.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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