Officials from the U.S. Department of Education acted swiftly this week to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) measures and staff following President Donald Trump’s executive order on Monday, 20th January, which reversed such provisions across the federal workforce.
On Thursday, 23rd January, the agency announced it had placed employees responsible for leading DEI initiatives on paid administrative leave. The number of staff members affected has not been revealed.
The department also disclosed that it had cancelled millions of dollars in contracts related to DEI training and services.
Additionally, the department committed to removing more than 200 webpages containing DEI resources for schools and colleges.
Two internal groups, created to promote diversity and inclusion among staff, were disbanded. Earlier that day, the agency appointed nearly a dozen new political appointees to senior leadership roles. Many of these individuals had previously held positions at the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned think tank led by Linda McMahon, the president’s nominee for education secretary. However, other key positions, including the top role overseeing U.S. colleges, remain vacant.
