Dozens of personnel from the U.S. Education Department have been placed on paid administrative leave following President Donald Trump’s directive to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within federal entities, as reported by a labor union representing many workers in the department.
The exact number of staff affected and specific reasons for their leave remain uncertain, according to Sheria Smith, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 252. She noted that the majority of the employees who have been put on leave are not directly involved in DEI initiatives and include staff from various branches of the agency, ranging from those allocating significant funds to K-12 education to those enforcing civil rights legislation.
This change occurs within the context of Elon Musk’s initiative titled the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to streamline operations and reduce staff across numerous federal agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development. A team from DOGE was reportedly at the Education Department on Monday, working to execute Trump’s executive orders and associated agenda, stated Madison Biedermann, a spokesperson for the department.
The Education Department has yet to release comments on the staff changes and did not disclose how many employees were placed on leave. On Friday, at least 55 employees were notified via email that they would be on paid leave starting immediately, as directed by Trump’s executive order. The email clarified that the leave was not for “any disciplinary purpose,” according to a copy obtained by various media outlets.
Those who were placed on leave have lost access to their government email accounts and have been instructed to refrain from reporting to their offices. This group represents a diverse range of roles within the department, which has over 4,000 employees located in Washington and regional offices nationwide.
Smith indicated that many of those on leave had participated in a voluntary DEI training program provided by the department, which has been endorsed for several years, including during Trump’s previous term. The Diversity Change Agent program is designed to cultivate individuals who can enhance the department’s ability to attract and maintain a diverse workforce, as noted in an internal email from 2019 that was accessed.
While Smith mentioned that hundreds of employees had undergone this training, it is unclear if they all were subsequently placed on leave. Some employees believed that participation in the training was either strongly encouraged or mandatory.
“It seems unfair to encourage or require people to take a training and then four or five years later place them on administrative leave,” Smith remarked.
Certain employees currently on leave expressed concerns that such measures could hinder the agency’s essential responsibilities, including managing federal student loans and processing the FAFSA for school funding. These employees preferred to speak anonymously due to fears of retaliation.
Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., a former educator and member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, criticized Trump, claiming he is “purging” staff who completed a training course that his administration had endorsed.
“This won’t help our kids learn or even save us money,” Murray conveyed on the social media platform, X. “He’s just dismantling services people rely on.”
Trump’s order has directed that all DEI personnel across the federal government be placed on paid leave, with a view toward future layoffs. This move is part of a broader attempt to eliminate programs that the president has labeled as racist.
During his campaign, Trump pledged to disband the Education Department, arguing that it has been compromised by “radicals, zealots, and Marxists.” He proposed transferring the department’s power back to states and local schools.
