By Mallory Wilson The Washington Times Tuesday, January 21, 2025

President Trump has directed that all employees in diversity, equity and inclusion roles be put on paid leave, a memo from the Office of Personnel Management shows Tuesday.

The memo, sent to heads of departments and agencies, gives a 5 p.m. Wednesday deadline to let the employees know they are being placed on administrative leave while all DEI related offices prepare to be closed down. 

It also instructs for all websites and social media accounts associated with those offices to be deleted. It called for all DEI trainings to be canceled and for all directives, plans and other orders to be withdrawn.

“President Trump campaigned on ending the scourge of DEI from our federal government and returning America to a merit based society where people are hired based on their skills, not for the color of their skin,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. 

“This is another win for Americans of all races, religions, and creeds. Promises made, promises kept,” she said.

Mr. Trump signed an executive order Monday ending DEI programs throughout the federal government.

The memo requested a complete list of DEI offices and employees, agency contracts and plans to comply with Mr. Trump’s executive order.

It said “a written plan for executing a reduction-in-force action” regarding DEI employees is requested by Jan. 31.