The U.S. Department of Education initiated mass placement of federal employees onto administrative leave on **February 4, 2025 because of its bid to destroy DEI programs. The executive order from President Donald Trump triggered these disciplinary actions toward Department of Education workers.
The DEI-related initiatives involving departmental “Diversity Change Agents” triggered the first reported action, resulting in administrative leaves for personnel. The internal memo delivered to affected workers explained they would enter an immediate regular leave status yet the disciplinary nature of the situation was not stated.
The Office of Personnel Management mandated all DEI programs to stop through recent guidance including the directive to remove public content about these programs and terminate training sessions with their associated contracts. As a result, the Department of Education terminated its Diversity & Inclusion Council and Employee Engagement Diversity Equity Inclusion Accessibility Council. Various service providers lost their contracts which were related to DEI work.
Many Department of Education employees represented by the American Federation of Government Employees now worry about the changes implemented by the administration. The union believes that the department’s modification will result in the potential termination of one hundred employees. The move opposes workplace inclusion initiatives while ignoring advancements made to fix systematic discrimination according to Brittany Holder who serves as AFGE deputy communications director.
Government officials support the decision to end DEI programs because they introduce division that opposes core principles of merit-based administration practice. As a part of its mission DOGE operated by the Trump administration formed a new office to merge government operations while decreasing employee expenses through this executive order.
The Department of Education faces potential miscellaneous organizational reforms. Intelligence indicates Trump’s advisors will propose an executive order that would disband non-statutory functions from the department before allocating its authority to federal agencies. The current plan to abolish the Department of Education exists as a possible legislative measure awaiting congressional support.
Some individuals who back the administration view their actions as bureaucratic reduction methods but opponents explain how these moves could harm sustained progress in federal workplace inclusivity and equal opportunity. Future time will reveal the complete impact of these actions upon the Department of Education workforce and its institution.