The Trump administration has ordered federal workers to report their colleagues who defy efforts to purge diversity, equity and inclusion (D.E.I.) programs from their agencies. The warning came one day after the administration shut down all D.E.I. efforts across the government by 5 p.m. Wednesday.
According to a template sent out to agency heads, employees are required to report any observed attempts to disguise D.E.I. programs using coded or imprecise language. Those who fail to comply within 10 days may face adverse consequences.
The directive is part of a broader assault on the federal workforce, which President Trump has pledged to eliminate as a bloated bureaucracy. The administration has also ordered remote workers back to the office and plans to lay off staff members from D.E.I. offices by January 31.
Conservative groups have praised Mr. Trump’s moves, calling them “a major milestone in American civil rights progress.” However, employees are spread with fear and confusion across the federal workforce, feeling as though they are being recruited into the Gestapo or living in the Soviet Union.
The directive has sparked uncertainty among agencies, with some stating their intent to comply while others remain uncertain about what it means for them. Some D.E.I. initiatives, such as addressing accessibility issues for people with disabilities, may be eliminated.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/22/us/politics/trump-order-discrimination-federal-hiring.html