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Chaos, Fear as Trump Orders US Workers to Report DEI Efforts or Face Consequences

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  • Trump orders federal employees to report any hidden diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
  • Workers fear retaliation and confusion over how DEI policies will impact their roles.
  • DEI programs, aimed at increasing minority participation, are banned under new executive orders.

The Trump administration issued a directive on Wednesday, instructing thousands of federal employees to report any attempts to “disguise” diversity initiatives in their agencies or face potential “adverse consequences.”

This move follows President Donald Trump’s executive orders banning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across the federal government. The order also mandates immediate administrative leave for employees working on such initiatives.

EDITOR’S PICKS 

Emails obtained by the BBC directed workers to disclose “all facts and circumstances” regarding DEI-related activities to a newly established government email address within 10 days.

Some federal employees interpreted this as pressure to report colleagues, causing widespread unease. “We’re really freaked out and overwhelmed,” said one Health and Human Services (HHS) employee, who requested anonymity.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) required agency heads to inform staff by Wednesday afternoon. While most emails included a warning about repercussions for non-compliance, others, such as those sent by the Treasury Department, omitted this language.

Critics of DEI programs, including Trump, argue that such initiatives promote discrimination by prioritizing characteristics like race, gender, and sexual identity. Trump, advocating for a “merit-based” system, reiterated his stance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday.

Supporters of the executive orders, such as Yukong Mike Zhao, president of the Asian American Coalition for Education, lauded the move as “a critical step towards building a colour-blind society.” However, many federal workers view the directive as a tactic to intimidate staff rather than foster fairness.

Employees expressed concerns about the practical implications of the order. An HHS employee described the situation as “very calculated chaos,” with divisions unsure about hiring practices and program continuation. Meanwhile, hiring freezes and paused research grants are causing uncertainty about future scientific funding and the potential impact on external stakeholders, such as universities and minority scientists.

FURTHER READING

The White House has not commented on the controversy, but the directive is part of a broader series of Trump administration actions, including federal hiring freezes, mandatory office returns, and employee reclassification efforts.

“This feels less about fairness and more about intimidation,” one employee remarked, reflecting the widespread anxiety permeating federal agencies.

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