DEI programs aim to promote the participation of people from diverse backgrounds in the workplace.
Their supporters say they address historical underrepresentation and discrimination against certain groups, including ethnic minorities, but critics say such programs can themselves be discriminatory.
In his inaugural address on Monday, Trump pledged to “create a society that is diverse and merit-based.”
Tuesday’s executive order was intended to frame the DEI and DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access) policies as “unlawful,” as they run afoul of U.S. law.
It said the policies have the potential to “violate” important civil rights laws that protect Americans from discrimination.
The order added that the DEI programs “undermined our national unity” because they rejected “traditional” values ​​in favor of a “malicious identity-based system”.
In a social media post, White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said she could “please confirm” a report by the BBC’s US partner, CBS News, that all federal DEI employees are off work on Wednesday. will be placed on paid leave by the end of the day.
Ms Levitt said the move was “another win for Americans of all races, religions and beliefs” and fulfilled a campaign promise from Trump.
The memo, seen by CBS, was sent from the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to heads of government agencies. Along with directing DEI employees to be placed on leave, he made several requests, including the removal of public websites for DEIA offices.
It also mandates that federal hiring, promotions and performance reviews be based on “individual measures” rather than “DEI-related factors,” and repeals a 1965 executive order signed by former President Lyndon B. Johnson. That makes it illegal to discriminate against federal contractors. of “race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin” in their employment.
By Thursday, federal agencies must compile a list of DEI offices and workers, the order announced. By Jan. 31, agencies must submit a “written plan” for implementing the furlough to DEI offices.
The order also asks the attorney general to make recommendations “to encourage the private sector” to end similar diversification efforts within 120 days.
Tuesday’s order comes on the heels of another that promised to end programs deemed “radical and wasteful” by Trump.
That one, signed Monday, calls for the elimination of all DEI offices, positions and programs within 60 days, “to the maximum extent permitted by law.”
It is not clear how many civil servants will be affected by these orders.
Several major U.S. companies have eliminated or scaled back their DEI programs in recent weeks, including McDonald’s, Walmart and Facebook parent company Meta.
Others, such as Apple and retailers Target and Costco, have publicly defended their DEI programs.
