Trump Administration Ends Federal DEI Programs Today

In a bold move fulfilling a campaign promise, the Trump administration has instructed federal agencies to place all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) officials on paid administrative leave. A directive from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), circulated to all executive agencies, requires the immediate cessation of DEI initiatives, programs, and offices.

The executive order, titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing and Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions,” mandates agency heads to notify DEI employees of their status and begin the process of dismantling their programs. “President Trump campaigned on ending the scourge of DEI from our federal government and returning America to a merit-based society,” stated White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. “This is another win for Americans of all races, religions, and creeds. Promises made, promises kept.”

Comprehensive Measures to Eliminate DEI Presence

The directive extends beyond personnel changes. Agency leaders must shutter DEI social media accounts, cancel any DEI-related contracts, and report to OPM on these efforts. A standard email template provided by OPM highlights the administration’s stance: “The DEI actions of the previous administration divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination.”

This announcement follows reports of the Biden administration’s extensive efforts to institutionalize DEI policies across federal agencies. Critics argue these initiatives, often promoting controversial concepts such as Critical Race Theory (CRT) and gender ideology, diverted resources and undermined merit-based practices.

Reversing Ideological Embedding

Under the prior administration, DEI programs proliferated throughout federal agencies. The National Security Agency held sessions on “white fragility,” State Department officials advocated CRT globally, and employee identity groups became activist hubs. Contracts to external organizations, including a Pentagon initiative for a discriminatory career pipeline, drew criticism for perpetuating ideological agendas.

The Trump administration’s decision to dismantle these programs is seen as a direct response to this perceived overreach. A study by Do No Harm documented over 500 DEI-related actions during the Biden presidency, many of which the current administration aims to reverse.

Promoting Merit and Accountability

Supporters of the order argue that DEI initiatives often perpetuated division and preferential treatment rather than fostering unity and fairness. Critics of DEI in government claim such programs used taxpayer money inefficiently while promoting policies that many Americans found objectionable.

The Trump administration’s actions signal a pivot toward focusing on merit and skill rather than identity-based considerations. By halting DEI efforts, officials argue they are paving the way for a more capable federal workforce grounded in competence and capability.