Dozens of staff members at the U.S. Department of Education have been placed on paid administrative leave following an order from President Donald Trump to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government, as reported by a labor union that represents workers in the agency.
The specific number of employees on leave and the reasons for their placements remain unclear, according to Sheria Smith, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 252. Smith mentioned that most of those affected do not work directly on DEI initiatives, with individuals drawn from various sectors within the agency. This includes staff from an office responsible for distributing billions in funding to K-12 schools as well as personnel from an office overseeing the enforcement of civil rights laws.
This move occurs amid initiatives spearheaded by Elon Musk’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to reduce programs and staff across various federal departments, including the U.S. Agency for International Development.
At least 55 employees within the Education Department received notifications on Friday indicating that they were being placed on paid leave immediately, as per Trump’s executive order. The email clarified that the leave action was not of a disciplinary nature.
Individuals on leave have had their access to government email accounts revoked and have been instructed to refrain from going into the office. The affected employees include a diverse group of staff and management from a department that employs over 4,000 professionals in Washington and across regional offices nationwide.
A spokesperson for the Education Department was not available for immediate comment regarding this situation.
A significant aspect linking those placed on leave is that many of them had previously participated in a voluntary diversity training program offered by the department. This Diversity Change Agent program has seen promotion from the agency over the years, including time during Trump’s first term.
While numerous employees have availed themselves of this training, it remains unknown how many are among those now on leave. Smith noted that many staff believed this training was either strongly encouraged or mandatory.
“It seems unfair to promote or require this training and then place employees on unpaid leave four or five years later,” Smith commented.
Some employees currently on leave expressed concerns that this course of action may disrupt vital functions of the agency, including management responsibilities pertaining to federal student loans and the FAFSA process for student financial aid. These employees chose to remain anonymous to avoid potential retaliation.
Trump’s executive order mandated that all DEI personnel across federal agencies be placed on paid leave, with the eventual goal of laying them off. This action is part of a broader initiative by the Republican president to dismantle diversity programs, which he argues perpetuate racism.
During his campaign, Trump vowed to eliminate the Education Department, labelling it as having been overrun by “radicals, zealots, and Marxists,” advocating for the transfer of its responsibilities to states and local educational institutions.
