Dozens of Education Department Employees Placed On Leave Amid Trump's DEI Rollback

In the wake of President Donald Trump's executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, dozens of employees at the U.S. Education Department have been placed on paid administrative leave for attending a diversity training course previously encouraged during his first term. As of late January, at least 55 employees received notices regarding their leave, which the American Federation of Government Employees Local 252 confirmed was not disciplinary in nature. The targeted training, known as the Diversity Change Agent Program, was aimed at promoting an inclusive workplace and was initially supported by former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Concerns have been raised about the implications of this mass leave on the agency's critical functions, including managing federal student loans and ensuring compliance with civil rights laws. Employees and union representatives have expressed confusion and frustration, noting that the initiative was once seen as a pathway to fostering diversity within the agency. Critics argue that this move reflects Trump's broader agenda to dismantle DEI efforts across the federal government, undermining previous initiatives he once endorsed.