Government agencies remove diversity programs after Trump order


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Federal agencies are experiencing significant changes in their DEI programs following the Trump administration’s recent crackdown, according to social media reports from a prominent national security attorney.

Attorney Mark Zaid revealed details about the sweeping changes through multiple posts on X. According to Zaid’s posts, the changes extend beyond initial reports at DHS and NASA.

“It goes beyond what happened at DHS & NASA today,” he wrote Wednesday.

CIA employees were told all resource & affinity groups are canceled. No black history month or MLK celebration, or any other ethnic recognition months. DEI folks are to be fired rather than allowed to rotate to former offices,” he wrote.

“CIA is also apparently banning lanyards that have to do with affinity groups. Women’s Council had to take down website & cancel all events, incl women’s history month,” he wrote in another post.

“They are also compiling lists of members within affinity groups. Because that’s not reminiscent of 1930s,” he wrote.

The internal restructuring follows President Donald Trump’s executive order mandating the dismantling of DEI programs across federal agencies. This development coincides with John Ratcliffe’s confirmation as CIA director on Thursday, as reported by USA Today.

The executive order demands that agencies eliminate “all discriminatory and illegal preferences, mandates, policies, programs, activities, guidance, regulations, enforcement actions, consent orders, and requirements.” The order also instructs agencies to enforce existing civil rights laws and address illegal DEI practices in the private sector.

Subsequently, the Office of Personnel Management directed federal employees in DEI-related positions to take administrative leave.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has drawn criticism for attempting to circumvent the order. The agency reportedly reassigned its chief diversity officer, Lisa T. Boykin, to a “senior executive” position after the order was issued.

This move prompted Republican Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri to respond on X: “The ATF defied @realDonaldTrump’s order to place DEI workers on leave, instead giving their DEI officer a new title. They attack citizens’ rights, ignore leadership, and act as though they’re above the law. Enough is enough. Time to abolish the ATF!”