Trump's Sweeping New Orders Target DEI, Remote Work for Federal Employees

What Happened?

Many nationwide are preparing for massive workplace changes following a sweeping round of executive orders by the Trump administration for federal workers.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management released a memo on Tuesday that ordered all federal employees in diversity, equity, and inclusion roles to be placed on paid leave no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday.

This process also includes the preparation for agencies to close all DEI-related offices and to remove all online accounts that are associated with such office programs.

Federal agencies were instructed by OPM to submit a complete list of DEI offices and anyone who was working in those offices as of Nov. 5, 2024, by noon Thursday.

The memo follows President Donald Trump's executive order on Monday that claims the former Biden administration 'forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs' under DEI titles into all aspects of the federal government under Executive Order 13985.

'Nearly every federal agency and entity submitted Equity Action Plans to detail the ways that they have furthered DEIs infiltration of the Federal Government,' The memo added. 'That ends today.'

Trump signed another executive order that pushes back on former President Joe Biden's move to allow federal workers to remain in a hybrid work arrangement through 2029.

'This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law,' the order stated which requires federal employees to return to in-person work on a full-time basis.

It is not immediately clear how many employees would be affected by these decisions.

Why it Matters

Billionaire Elon Musk, tasked with co-leading efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has said that ending remote work for federal workers would cut down on federal costs.

'Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome,' Musk told The Wall Street Journal in December.

As far as DEI initiatives, billions of dollars are spent annually, according to a White House fact sheet.

The Trump administration argues that instead of promoting inclusion, DEI efforts have amplified 'prejudicial hostility and exacerbates interpersonal conflict.'

A second executive order issued Tuesday has stirred up concern that revokes actions of past administrations from decades ago under former presidents Bill Clinton and Lyndon B. Johnson.

One (Executive Order 12898) focused on requiring federal agencies to address environmental justice for low-income and minority populations.

Another (Executive Order 11246) required government contractors to adopt non-discriminatory practices in hiring and employment.

'The Federal Government is charged with enforcing our civil rights laws. The purpose of this order is to ensure that it does so by ending illegal preferences and discrimination,' The White House stated.

How it Affects You

Some DEI consultants have reportedly explained that a common misperception is that the work of such departments was only about race.

‘A lot of what we did in DEIA, specifically at the Labor Department, was to ensure that we were creating pathways to good paying jobs,’ consultant Alaysia Black Hackett told NPR. ‘Our strategy was to build an economy for all workers.’

CEO Max Stier of the Partnership for Public Service added, ‘Penalizing career civil servants for faithfully doing their jobs during a prior administration is wrong.’

Hundreds of civil rights and advocacy groups are preparing to push back as the Trump administration will likely face legal challenges, according to reports.

Federal agencies have until Jan. 31 to submit a written plan for dismissing such employees which could impact millions of workers long-term.