Here Are the (USELESS?) Federal Employees Who Just Got Terminated

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order abolishing all federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, placing hundreds of government employees on leave and canceling contracts worth millions.

It’s about time! Think about how much money this is going to save.

At a Glance

  • Trump’s executive order terminates all federal DEI programs
  • 395 government employees placed on leave
  • $420 million in DEI-related contracts canceled
  • New Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) established under Elon Musk’s leadership
  • Agencies instructed to close DEIA offices and remove related content

Trump’s Bold Move Against DEI

President Donald Trump has taken decisive action to dismantle the federal government’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs – and it’s going to save a lot of money. The executive order, signed on Trump’s first day back in office, has far-reaching consequences for government employees and contractors involved in DEI initiatives.

The order has resulted in 395 government bureaucrats being placed on leave, signaling a dramatic change in the federal workforce. Additionally, the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by tech mogul Elon Musk, announced the cancellation of approximately $420 million in DEI-related contracts.

Trump’s executive order aims to end former President Joe Biden’s DEI mandates and return to a merit-based system within the federal government.

Imagine that!

This move effectively rescinds Biden’s previous order promoting diversity initiatives, titled “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.”

Trump has since confirmed his plans to “return our country to the merit system,” signaling a shift away from what he perceives as preferential treatment based on demographic factors.

In other words: we’ll stop being a racist country.

Implementing the New Order

The federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued a memo directing all DEI employees to be placed on paid leave. Agency heads have been instructed to close DEIA offices, remove related media, and cancel DEIA-related contracts and training programs.

To ensure compliance, agencies must report to OPM by January 23, 2025, on the steps taken to implement the memo and provide comprehensive lists of DEIA offices and contracts. The order also requires agencies to report any attempts to disguise DEI programs using coded language, demonstrating the administration’s commitment to a thorough overhaul of these initiatives.

Trump’s executive order abolishing DEI programs was part of a series of actions taken on his first day back in office. These included recognizing only two genders and withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, signaling a broad reversal of policies implemented during the Biden administration.

Additional executive actions were issued to end race and sex-based preferences in the workplace and higher education, as well as to eliminate DEI hiring priorities at the Federal Aviation Administration. These moves collectively represent a significant shift in federal policy, prioritizing what the administration describes as merit-based systems over diversity-focused initiatives.

Once upon a time, this used to be an uncontroversial idea, but the Democrats have embedded race so heavily into our politics that it now seems radical.