American President Donald Trump has launched his promised battle against so-called “woke” inclusion policies by issuing an order requiring all federal employees involved in DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs to be placed on paid leave by the end of the workday (Wednesday), with their departments to be shut down.
The directive, sent on Tuesday by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), will ultimately lead to the dismissal or reassignment of these employees, according to the Washington Post.
This order follows an executive action signed by Trump on Monday, his first day in office, to end what he described as the “wasteful and radical” DEI programs within the federal government.
“We will build a colorblind, merit-based society,” Trump stated, emphasizing that race and ethnicity will no longer be factors in hiring, as opposed to the minority quotas mandated by DEI policies.
This decision also overturns numerous regulations and initiatives from previous administrations aimed at “promoting diversity” in federal government agencies.
Trump announced that he would direct the Office of Management and Budget to halt all related mandates, policies, and programs across all federal agencies, including DEI initiatives within individual departments. Additionally, the closure of DEI information services such as websites and social media accounts has been ordered.
Federal agencies are required to submit written plans for a “significant workforce reduction” (layoffs) in DEI programs by 5 p.m. on Friday, January 31, as stated in the OPM memorandum.
The order extends beyond government agencies, directing the Attorney General to provide recommendations within 120 days for enforcing federal civil rights laws and implementing measures to encourage the private sector to end illegal discrimination and preferences, including DEI practices.
Trump has also instructed the Attorney General to draft a plan to “deter the private sector from adopting or continuing DEI programs.”
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“As part of this plan, each agency will identify up to nine potential investigations into civil compliance involving public companies, large nonprofit corporations or associations, foundations with assets exceeding $500 million, state and local bar and medical associations, and higher education institutions with endowments over $1 billion,” the Tuesday directive states.
Agency heads are also required to inquire whether employees are aware of any attempts to disguise DEI programs using coded or ambiguous language, according to the OPM memo. Employees who fail to report such attempts within 10 days could face “adverse consequences.”
The OPM also issued a template email to be sent to employees, explaining that DEI programs have “divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and led to shameful discrimination.”
Reversal of Biden Administration Policies
The former administration of President Joseph Biden had instructed federal agencies to “promote diversity” within their workforce to “advance equity for people of color historically marginalized.”
Battle Against Woke Culture
As part of his effort to combat the “woke” policies of his predecessor, Trump signed an order that the federal government will recognize only two genders: male and female. This nullifies the option to select “other” or “X” on federal forms.
“From today, it will be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female. What we are doing today is defining that U.S. policy recognizes two genders, male and female. These genders are immutable and based on fundamental and undeniable reality,” Trump said during his inauguration, adding that dropdown menus listing additional gender options would no longer appear.
In anticipation of Trump’s presidency, many major U.S. companies, including Meta, McDonald’s, and Walmart, have already eliminated their DEI programs following the 2023 Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action in college admissions.
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Source: Euronews, Photo: Reuters