Federal Employees Ordered to Report DEI Activities or Face 'Adverse Consequences'

Federal employees in multiple agencies have been instructed to report any diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities in their department. This directive comes amidst a widespread purge of DEI initiatives following President Trump's executive order titled "Ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing."

The new guidance, issued by the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), includes a template email to be sent from agency heads to all employees. This email warns of "adverse consequences" for those who fail to report DEI activities. Additionally, the guidance instructs agencies to place all DEIA staff on immediate leave and to develop a plan for ending all related programs.

The template email also states that "efforts by some in government to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language" should be reported. Employees are instructed to look out for changes in job descriptions that attempt to conceal DEI activities and to report them within 10 days.

This directive has been met with mixed reactions. Some employees have expressed concern about the potential for retaliation, while others have welcomed the move as a step towards ending what they perceive as divisive and discriminatory programs.

The impact of this directive on federal DEI initiatives remains to be seen. However, it is clear that the Trump administration is taking a hard line against these programs, which they view as wasteful and harmful.