President Donald Trump’s executive order terminates all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, placing 395 government employees on leave and canceling $420 million in contracts.
Quick Takes
- Trump’s executive order ends all federal DEI programs, impacting 395 employees and $420 million in contracts
- The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, oversees the transition
- The order aims to revert to a merit-based system, undoing Biden’s DEI mandates
- Agencies must rapidly report compliance measures to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
- Additional actions include recognizing only two genders and withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement
Trump’s Executive Order Reshapes Federal Landscape
In a sweeping move that has sent shockwaves through the federal government, President Donald Trump has issued an executive order terminating all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across federal agencies. This decisive action has resulted in 395 government employees being placed on administrative leave and the cancellation of approximately $420 million in DEI-related contracts.
🚨 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 executive order, aimed at dismantling the DEI infrastructure established under the Biden administration, marks a significant shift in federal policy. Trump’s directive seeks to “return our country to the merit system,” effectively reversing former President Joe Biden’s efforts to promote diversity initiatives within the government.
Department of Government Efficiency Takes Charge
Overseeing this transition is the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the leadership of Elon Musk. DOGE has been tasked with managing the cessation of DEI programs and ensuring a smooth transition back to what the administration describes as a merit-based system.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has played a crucial role in implementing the executive order. OPM issued a memo directing all DEI employees to be placed on paid leave and instructing agency heads to close DEIA offices, remove related media, and cancel DEIA-related contracts and trainings.
Rapid Implementation and Reporting
Agencies have been given tight deadlines to comply with the new directive, they must report to OPM on the steps taken to implement the memo and provide comprehensive lists of DEIA offices and contracts. This rapid turnaround underscores the administration’s commitment to swiftly enacting these changes across the federal government.
In addition to closing DEI offices and canceling contracts, agencies have been instructed to inform employees of the DEI shutdown and remove all DEI-related online content. The order also requires agencies to report any attempts to disguise DEI programs using coded language, further emphasizing the administration’s determination to root out these initiatives entirely.
Broader Policy Shifts
The executive order terminating DEI programs is part of a larger series of actions taken by President Trump on his first week back in office. These include recognizing only two genders, withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, and issuing additional executive actions to end race and sex-based preferences in the workplace and higher education.
These sweeping changes mark a significant departure from the policies of the previous administration, particularly Biden’s executive order on “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.”
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Trump’s federal DEI purge puts hundreds on leave, nixes $420M in contracts
