Judge Temporarily Halts Firing of CIA Officers Over DEIA Assignments

A U.S. District Court judge has temporarily blocked the firing of 11 CIA officers currently assigned to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access programs. The order, given verbally by Judge Anthony Trenga at the close of a hearing, pauses the agency’s decision for five days while the government is given until Thursday to file a response regarding a request for a temporary restraining order.

The officers, represented by Kevin Carroll—a lawyer and former undercover officer with the agency—were told they must choose between forced retirement by October 1, immediate resignation, or facing termination by May 20. Carroll argues that the decision to dismiss these individuals was made based on an assumption about their political leanings, and that the method used violates both established administrative procedures and their constitutional rights.

This controversy follows a broader government initiative where 51 CIA officers were placed on paid administrative leave after an executive order from President Trump on January 22 aimed to end DEIA programs across federal agencies. The affected officers were summoned outside the high-security perimeter at Langley, Virginia, had their badges confiscated, and were compelled to accept one of the three options by a strict deadline, sparking significant legal challenges over the agency’s handling of the situation.