The US government sent a memo to federal agencies warning them to be prepared to lay off employees who work on diversity, equity and inclusion programmes.
The memo comes from the US Office of Personnel Management and orders that all employees who work in DEIA positions be put on paid leave today, 22 January, by 5:00pm local.
On Tuesday, 21 January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to end these hiring and training schemes that he describes as “dangerous and demeaning”.
The memo states: “Send an immediate notification to all DEIA offices to inform them that they will be placed on paid leave as the agency closes/ends all DEIA offices, initiatives, and programs.”
He repealed several executive orders that promoted LGBTQ equality on his first day as president, Monday 20 January. He also issued an order declaring only two genders. He rescinded all 78 executive order passed by his predecessor Joe Biden.
The executive order that pledged to end equality programmes stated: “The Biden Administration forced illegal and moral discrimination programs under the name of ‘diversity equity and inclusion’ into virtually every aspect of the Federal Government in areas such as airline safety and the military.”
Trump also announced a hiring freeze for all federal positions, other than those relating to military personnel or positions related immigration enforcement, security, and public safety.
He asked managers for a list containing federal employees on probation and asked them to recommend whether or not they should continue in their current roles.
The order states that federal agencies are to remove the majority of jobs from the government job board. New jobs cannot be created, with some exceptions.
Federal workers were also asked to return to work five days per week.
Since Trump’s victory in the November election, several large US companies, including McDonald’s and Walmart, have either ended or reduced their DEI programmes.
Personnel Today offers HR business partners opportunities
Browse other HR Business Partner Jobs
Subscribe to our weekly HR news and guidance
Every Wednesday, receive the Personnel Today Direct newsletter.
