The memo contained instructions on how agency heads should go about shuttering their DEI offices. By "no later than 5:00 pm EST on Wednesday, January 22, 2025," agency heads must send a memo notifying employees of the closure and to ask "employees if they know of any efforts to disguise these programs." All workers in those DEI departments will be "placed on
paid administrative leave effective immediately as the agency takes steps to
close/end all DEIA initiatives, offices and programs." The FBI notably shuttered their DEI division ahead of the inauguration, meaning that they would have been able to find alternate positions for their employees in that department.
The EO on Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing read that "The Biden Administration forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' (DEI), into virtually all aspects of the Federal Government, in areas ranging from airline safety to the military. This was a concerted effort stemming from President Biden’s first day in office, when he issued Executive Order 13985, 'Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.'" Biden signed this order during his first days in office in 2021 along with a series of orders on gender.
"Pursuant to Executive Order 13985 and follow-on orders," Trump's EO read, "nearly every Federal agency and entity submitted 'Equity Action Plans' to detail the ways that they have furthered DEIs infiltration of the Federal Government. The public release of these plans demonstrated immense public waste and shameful discrimination. That ends today. Americans deserve a government committed to serving every person with equal dignity and respect, and to expending precious taxpayer resources only on making America great."
A huge component of Biden's presidency, and the campaign that preceeded it, was involved with concepts of DEI. In choosing a vice president, he promised to choose a black woman and didn't even consider candidates who did not check both of those boxes. He used the same criteria for his Supreme Court justice selection and chose Ketanji Brown Jackson, who again checked the identity boxes that he believed were required for the position.
In an exit video broadcast to the American people, Biden bragged about his DEI accomplishments. The video begins with former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland saying "President Biden promised that he would have a cabinet that looks like America, and he did." Appearances were of paramount importance to the Biden administration and they prioritized race and gender.
"President Biden made a commitment that his Administration would look like America. The result: President Biden assembled the most diverse Administration in US history," the caption read.
OPM Memo Initial Guidance Regarding DEIA Executive Orders by The Post Millennial on Scribd
