A memo from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management sent Tuesday is directing the heads of all U.S. agencies to place all federal employees in diversity, equity and inclusion roles on leave by 5 p.m. ET Wednesday.
In addition to placing the employees on paid administrative leave, the memo directs the agencies to “take down all outward facing media (websites, social media accounts, etc.) of DEIA offices,” cancel upcoming DEI trainings and terminate contracts with DEI-related contractors by the same time Wednesday.
By noon on Thursday, the agencies are directed to provide the OPM with a list of all DEI offices and employees and DEI-related contracts.
The agencies must also submit “a written plan for executing a reduction-in-force action regarding the employees who work in a DEIA office,” by 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 31.
Mr. Trump signed executive orders on Monday and Tuesday that aim to end DEI programs within the federal government.
Tuesday’s order also directs the attorney general to create a plan to deter the private sector from adopting or continuing DEI programs.
“As a part of this plan, each agency shall identify up to nine potential civil compliance investigations of publicly traded corporations, large non-profit corporations or associations, foundations with assets of 500 million dollars or more, State and local bar and medical associations, and institutions of higher education with endowments over 1 billion dollars,” Tuesday’s order read.
— Jordan Freiman and Kristin Brown