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By Gabe Whisnant
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Several federal agencies have started removing resources for Americans from their websites in response to President Donald Trump's executive order targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Agencies have also been canceling training and service contracts to comply with Trump's directive, which aims to dismantle diversity programs across the federal government. He has ordered that all DEI staff be placed on paid leave with the intention of eventually laying them off.
Newsweek reached out by email to the Trump administration Friday morning for comment.
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Why It Matters
In a sweeping move after his inauguration on Monday, Trump rescinded numerous Biden-era executive orders and implemented many of his own. Among the new measures, Trump ordered what he called "ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing."
In a memo sent to the acting heads of government DEIA offices on Tuesday, which was first obtained by CBS News and then confirmed by Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt on X (formerly Twitter), the administration laid out the steps to inform DEIA office employees of the upcoming changes. (DEIA stands for diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.)
What To Know
Documents related to DEI have been removed from the websites of multiple agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management, the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, the Associated Press said. Webpages that previously hosted DEI content now display a "Page Not Found — 404" error. Or they have notes indicating the material has been archived and explaining the changes.
One of the taken-down sites includes a page dedicated to the Inaugural Treasury Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, which was created during the Biden administration.
On Thursday night, the Education Department announced that it had removed or archived hundreds of guidance documents, reports and training materials. Over 200 pages, previously available on its website, provided resources and advice for K-12 schools and colleges on promoting DEI programming. The department also reported the cancellation of DEI training and service contracts totaling more than $2.6 million.
The removed pages included "Resources for LGBTQI+ Students," an overview of civil rights laws related to "Race, Color, or National Origin Discrimination," and guidance titled "Avoid the Discriminatory Use of Artificial Intelligence."
What People Are Saying
Dorothy Brown, a Georgetown law professor who served on Biden's Inaugural Treasury Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, told the AP that Trump's order has far-reaching implications for workforce diversity.
"Conservatives would say it is wrong to target someone based on their race, but that is exactly what Trump is doing," she said.
An Education Department statement said the deleted website pages "encouraged schools and institutions of higher education to promote or endorse harmful ideological programs."
What's Next
Trump's order gives agencies 120 days to compile a report with recommendations for "enforcing Federal civil-rights laws and taking other appropriate measures to encourage the private sector to end illegal discrimination and preferences, including DEI."
The order suggests that companies with DEI programs could face legal action.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Update 1/24/25, 1:07 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and background.
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