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Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave

51 Comments
By ALEXANDRA OLSON and ZEKE MILLER

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51 Comments

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Promises made promises kept.

fed employees are frantically rewriting their job descriptions to pretend they had no “policy” roles and were not involved at all in DEI.

2 ( +17 / -15 )

Federal agencies have deeply embedded policies and procedures that can’t simply be switched off overnight,” she added.

yep keep telling yourself that. The EO has clear policy and specific timelines to meet.

-1 ( +13 / -14 )

What I want to know is, how is it possible to definitively determine if someone is or is not a, quote, "DEI staff".

Is there something in their contract that so defines them? Do they wear a badge saying "I am a DEI staff"?

Is it shorthand for "anyone who isn't a white male"?

is there a legally binding definition of "DEI staff"?

7 ( +14 / -7 )

They have a job description with a federal series number and job title that identifies their position as such.

6 ( +14 / -8 )

Good.

No more discriminating against white people.

No more of DEI's "soft bigotry of low expectations" -- no more of the "DEI crowd" regarding non-white people as inferior and less capable than white people of achieving merit and success.

(Yes, we 'evil white racist conservative' people actually do think that non-white people are just as capable as we are. It's the "racially sensitive DEI folks" who think they're not.)

This is a welcome and overdue return to the essential message of MLK Jr. -- that you will be given every opportunity regardless of your skin color, but you're not going to get special treatment because of it.

0 ( +12 / -12 )

They have a job description with a federal series number and job title that identifies their position as such.

OK. I was genuinely curious. Is there a source for that? Like an official government site, etc.? I'd like to know more. It seems that it could be difficult to enforce an executive order if it's not possible to locate the target of said executive order.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

https://statejobs.ny.gov/employees/vacancyDetailsPrint.cfm?id=178226

here is a state government example that has (well HAD) a federal government equivalent.

The federal positions now being eliminated look(ed) and sound(ed) just like this by description and title with high management levels and high salary.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

DEI is rooted in Marxist theory and ideology. The far left dems tried so hard to destroy the country they hate!

common sense and a real leader is finally back in the White House

-2 ( +10 / -12 )

Like an official government site, etc.?

opm.gov and USAjobs.gov

it was very much in the open and celebrated who was in these jobs and the type of person who it was exclusively for.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

No more participation trophies.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

DEI is rooted in Marxist theory and ideology. 

How so I have never read that.

1 ( +9 / -8 )

https://statejobs.ny.gov/employees/vacancyDetailsPrint.cfm?id=178226

here is a state government example that has (well HAD) a federal government equivalent.

The federal positions now being eliminated look(ed) and sound(ed) just like this by description and title with high management levels and high salary.

Ah, I think I didn't phrase my question correctly. That link is to a job entitled "Diversity and Inclusion specialist", which presumably pertains to DEI. My reading of the executive order was that Trump ordered that anyone who was hired for reasons of DEI (as opposed to, presumably, merit) should be placed on leave and then fired. I was trying to work out how it would be possible to prove, beyond any reasonable doubt, that someone was hired because they were (say) a woman, gay, black, neurodivergent, or whatever.

It's rather vaguely worded, in any case.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

No, it’s people who are actively employed in such roles by job description and federal series number.

“all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff “

Staff= people in such roles.

not who was hired in that way.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

DEI is rooted in Marxist theory and ideology.

I just googled "main tenets of Marxism" and got this.

The basic principles of Marxist theory include the claim that all history is the history of class struggle. Another is the claim that society is increasingly characterized by the struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, and when the proletariat win, it will lead to an age of communism. Another principle of Marxism is that discovering the contradictions of capitalism is an indicator that the bourgeoisie is no longer the progressive class and will soon be overcome.

I don't see how anyone could contort that into DEI. Is "Marxism" your Word Of The Week which you have to shoehorn into everything?

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Absolutely beautiful. Straight off the bat. The equity crew. Bye bye now. Back to good old fashioned equality of opportunity and color blindness. I’m sure these diversity employees knew their days were numbered. Good luck finding a job in the new real world. I’d suggest learning a trade.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

How many of the 3.5 million federal workers will lose their jobs?

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Of course this posted article was also written to imply/suggest this is something it’s not and spread confusion.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/white-house-opm-orders-all-dei-offices-begin-closing-end-day-wednesday

Clearly, the DEI offices and the people who work there. You likely don’t work at the DEI office if you aren’t involved with DEI.

but if your role actually is unrelated, you can get reassigned to another office.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

How many of the 3.5 million federal workers will lose their jobs?

I think eventually half.

a lot of it will be covered not by firing but by not hiring replacements for people who quit because they were told to go back the office full time.

some people don’t even live in the same state as their job anymore.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

How many of the 3.5 million federal workers will lose their jobs?

I'm surprised that liberals are shocked, he said he was going to do this on the campaign trail. He is making sure a lot of these holdovers are gone and not left like last time to help sabotage as much of his admin as they can, not going to happen.

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

I first heard about DEI while working in an investment bank on Wall Street. They were investing in DEI to get a competitive edge over competitors that didn't. DEI benefits organizations because it increases the viewpoints and opinions on what you are working on and it increases the potential workforce you can hire.

So to shut it down is like shooting yourself in the foot.

MAWA: Make America Worse Again.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

bass4funk

How many of the 3.5 million federal workers will lose their jobs?

I'm surprised that liberals are shocked, he said he was going to do this on the campaign trail. He is making sure a lot of these holdovers are gone and not left like last time to help sabotage as much of his admin as they can, not going to happen.

I am not a liberal and yes before you comment I'm also not a conservative.

Why would you think I am "shocked"?

You cannot post a simple answer to a simple question.

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

Blacklabel

How many of the 3.5 million federal workers will lose their jobs?

I think eventually half.

That would leave the federal government unable to operate.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

Pulling back from the brink, one day at a time.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Just send them home for good

1 ( +9 / -8 )

Everyone cheering this has obviously never had something that set you apart...a foreign name, different skin colour, ethnicity, country of origin, not to mention physical disability that though obvious, would not impair your job skills.

My guess....all the pro posters are white, male, working class or middle class, with an axe to grind.

Notice how all the other modern countries in say, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, keep these EEO policies BECAUSE THEY HELP BALANCE A SYSTEM THAT FAVOURS SOME ONLY.

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

The largest Federal Dept is the DOD with 700,000 civilian employees. Staff deductions could begin there.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

I am not a liberal and yes before you comment I'm also not a conservative. 

But you most definitely don't show or hold ANY conservative views on social issues, they are all liberal-leaning.

Why would you think I am "shocked"?

Because Trump said he was going to do this once he got back into office, even the Dems knew it was coming.

You cannot post a simple answer to a simple question.

I always do.

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

Notice how all the other modern countries in say, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, keep these EEO policies BECAUSE THEY HELP BALANCE A SYSTEM THAT FAVOURS SOME ONLY.

They will all follow the US lead in the end. People are fed up with this nonsense.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

@ GuruMickToday 02:50 pm JST

"Everyone cheering this has obviously never had something that set you apart...a foreign name, different skin colour, ethnicity, country of origin, not to mention physical disability that though obvious, would not impair your job skills.

My guess....all the pro posters are white, male, working class or middle class, with an axe to grind.

Notice how all the other modern countries in say, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, keep these EEO policies BECAUSE THEY HELP BALANCE A SYSTEM."

With all respects you are wrong GuruM, some of us has seen and been put in worse condition by those who look like us while implementing DEI just because of calling what it is reverse racism. More importantly the US Constitution covers everyone. And the worst abusers of the Constitution are the same people designing this fictitious DEI policies which only strengthen tribal mentality.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

> Deo GratiasToday  01:54 pm JST

Good.

No more discriminating against white people.

No more of DEI's "soft bigotry of low expectations" -- no more of the "DEI crowd" regarding non-white people as inferior and less capable than white people of achieving merit and success.

(Yes, we 'evil white racist conservative' people actually do think that non-white people are just as capable as we are. It's the "racially sensitive DEI folks" who think they're not.)

This is a welcome and overdue return to the essential message of MLK Jr. -- that you will be given every opportunity regardless of your skin color, but you're not going to get special treatment because of it.

Can you explain then why people of colour and openly LGBTQ and women are underrepresented in various sections of society if you believe 'non-whites' are equal to whites? How does that happen?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

gaboce5230Today  03:24 pm JST

Deo GratiasToday  01:54 pm JST*

Good.

No more discriminating against white people.

No more of DEI's "soft bigotry of low expectations" -- no more of the "DEI crowd" regarding non-white people as inferior and less capable than white people of achieving merit and success.

(Yes, we 'evil white racist conservative' people actually do think that non-white people are just as capable as we are. It's the "racially sensitive DEI folks" who think they're not.)

This is a welcome and overdue return to the essential message of MLK Jr. -- that you will be given every opportunity regardless of your skin color, but you're not going to get special treatment because of it.

.

.

.

.

..

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..

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Can you explain then why people of colour and openly LGBTQ and women are underrepresented in various sections of society if you believe 'non-whites' are equal to whites? How does that happen?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Your fired! Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Reinjecting meritocracy into public servants will save a tonne of money and lead to a public service that serves taxpayers, rather than engaging in virtue signalling, social engineering cooked up in focus groups.

Common sense has been missing for too long.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Ricky Kaminski13Today  02:14 pm JST

Absolutely beautiful. Straight off the bat. The equity crew. Bye bye now. Back to good old fashioned equality of opportunity and color blindness. I’m sure these diversity employees knew their days were numbered. Good luck finding a job in the new real world. I’d suggest learning a trade.

"Back to good old fashioned inequality of opportunity and color discrimination.

There fixed it for ya.

If you think that the US was a land of free opportunity and equality, you have your head in the clouds (or no understanding of US society).

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

JJE

Reinjecting meritocracy into public servants will save a tonne of money and lead to a public service that serves taxpayers, rather than engaging in virtue signalling, social engineering cooked up in focus groups.

DEI doesn't mean a lack of meritocracy. In fact, DEI ensures that you have more chance of a meritocracy - which doesn't really exist.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

GuruMick

Equal Employment Opportunity laws are NOT the same as DEI. EEO is designed to prevent discrimination while DEI is discrimination based on group identity.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Back to the way things should be. Choose the most competent person for each position in government.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Sounds like a waste of money when they are being paid and will probably never be laid off.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

If 1.75 million federal workers lose their jobs, won’t that hurt consumption and put pressure on whatever social security the US has? Or will it force wages down by increasing the supply of available labor?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

they can go work in the private sector and generate money not just spending it.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

I assume that the people who agree with this also believe that of all the men who have served as President of the USA thus far, the fact that all but one of them were white is simply proof that white people are inherently superior and that there was never a single non white candidate until Obama who had what it takes?

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

Can you explain then why people of colour and openly LGBTQ and women are underrepresented in various sections of society 

Same reason white people of non European descent are severely underrepresented in the NBA? That’s a job too.

are these “sections of society” ones they hold qualifications or education in?

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Seems incompetent people are really against hiring by merit

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Sounds like a waste of money when they are being paid and will probably never be laid off.

fast forward to next week when they are laid off: how dare he….keep his promise!

these DEI offices and staff are not coming back, they just aren’t. Deal with it now and accept it or be surprised again later.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Federal diversity, equity, and inclusion staff be put on leave.

How many are there?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

“The memo also directed the heads of agencies and departments that by noon Thursday, Jan. 23, they must share with OPM: A complete list of DEIA offices and any employees who were in those offices as of Nov. 5, 2024”

So will know how many soon. I think it will be surprising how many it really is.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave

Good! After a long dystopian nightmare, sanity is returning.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Underworld

DEI doesn't mean a lack of meritocracy.

It does so by definiton.

In fact, DEI ensures that you have more chance of a meritocracy - which doesn't really exist.

In what universe does that claim make sense? Fact is the moment you use OTHER criteria than merit, merit takes a backseat.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Tokyo GuyToday  04:08 pm JST

Not all of the previous white candidates have been qualified or 'superior' - the last guy is the exception there.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

BlacklabelToday 04:17 pm JST

Sounds like a waste of money when they are being paid and will probably never be laid off.

fast forward to next week when they are laid off: how dare he….keep his promise!

these DEI offices and staff are not coming back, they just aren’t. Deal with it now and accept it or be surprised again later.

Except they aren't or they would have been gone already. Biden moved them to wear they can't be fired by presidential flavor of the month.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Federal diversity, equity, and inclusion staff be put on leave.

Gone! You should be judged by your merit and nothing more.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Zaphod

In fact, DEI ensures that you have more chance of a meritocracy - which doesn't really exist.

In what universe does that claim make sense?

In this one.

Fact is the moment you use OTHER criteria than merit, merit takes a backseat.

Incorrect. They use merit AND other criteria.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

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