Trump's team cuts program for equality of oppressed social groups in US

Axios notes that this decision is outlined in a memo from the US Office of Personnel Management.

The White House's purge of programs and employees dealing with diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI) began on Monday, January 20, and is progressing at a rapid pace.

"Each agency, department, or commission head shall take action to terminate, to the maximum extent allowed by law, all DEI, DEIA, and 'environmental justice' offices and positions within sixty days," states the memo.

Axios mentions that the memo complements a directive sent earlier this week, in which agencies were asked to submit written reduction in force plans, i.e., layoffs, by no later than January 31.

However, the new memo indicates that agencies should begin issuing these layoff notices immediately.

Paid leave and whistleblowing

At the same time, Axios notes that it is unclear how many DEI employees are working in the federal government, which employs millions of workers. In many cases, simply firing employees is not possible, as different procedures need to be followed for such actions.

The memo released on Friday evening from the Trump administration follows a directive issued earlier this week. It instructed department and agency heads to shut down DEI offices, some of which are tasked with addressing accessibility issues for people with disabilities.

Agencies were ordered to place staff on paid leave, as well as shut down all DEI websites, social media accounts, and external media outlets. They were also instructed to withdraw any equality and inclusion plans and cancel all training sessions and contracts.

The directive included an email template encouraging public servants to report colleagues who continue these practices.

Why DEI programs and offices are being cut

The Trump administration considers DEI programs discriminatory, as they provide advantages based on individuals' racial, ethnic, or gender identity.

The flurry of orders regarding DEI is creating an atmosphere of fear and anxiety for both the employees placed on leave and other federal workers.

"Ultimately, these attacks on DEIA are just a smokescreen for firing civil servants, undermining the apolitical civil service, and turning the federal government into an army of yes-men loyal only to the president, not the Constitution," said a statement from the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union of federal workers.

Additionally, the restrictions in federal agencies are happening alongside a shift away from this policy in American corporations. On Friday, January 24, Target announced its decision to move away from DEI initiatives.

In contrast, Costco and JPMorgan Chase are currently defending their practices.

Axios notes that Trump’s executive orders were aimed at several policies of the Biden administration, which sought to implement a broader hiring framework. These efforts, for instance, increased the share of federal employees with disabilities.

Unconventional decisions of the Trump administration

After taking office as President of the US, Donald Trump and his administration began implementing rapid changes in both domestic and foreign policies.

On January 21, Trump declared a state of emergency regarding immigration at the US-Mexico border. Soon after, the president signed an executive order to close the southern border of the US.

In the country, flights for refugees who had been granted entry under the refugee resettlement program were widely canceled.

Additionally, the US Department of State suspended foreign aid grant programs for 90 days, raising questions about the continuation of military and financial assistance to Ukraine and other countries worldwide.