Dozens of U.S. Education Department employees were placed on paid administrative leave following President Donald Trump’s executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the federal government. The American Federation of Government Employees Local 252 reported that employees across various agency branches were affected, from those supporting K-12 schools to civil rights enforcement offices. The move coincides with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to reduce programs and federal workforce in multiple departments, including the U.S. Agency for International Development.

At least 55 Education Department workers were notified of immediate paid leave without disciplinary intent, following Trump’s order. Many of these employees had participated in the agency’s voluntary Diversity Change Agent program over the years. The sudden administrative leave disrupted core agency functions like managing federal student loans and student financial aid applications, according to anonymous employees. Trump’s directive aimed to place all DEI staff on paid leave and eventually terminate them as part of a broader crackdown on diversity programs deemed discriminatory.

Critics argue that the order unfairly penalizes employees who had undergone the department’s diversity training, which was previously encouraged or perceived as mandatory. Trump’s longstanding stance against the Education Department, which he accuses of being infiltrated by radical ideologies, aligns with his vision of devolving its authority to states and schools. The impact of these actions on the agency’s operations and workforce dynamics remains a subject of concern and scrutiny.