Federal employees received a concerning email warning that they could face consequences if they don’t report co-workers working in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) roles that might be flying under the radar of government supervisors.
The emails stated, “We are aware of efforts by some in government to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language.” Employees were asked to report any changes in contracts or job descriptions since November 5, 2024, that could be attempting to obscure connections to DEIA or similar ideologies.
These messages went out to workers across multiple federal agencies, and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) had issued a memo telling department heads to send the notice to employees by 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The OPM even provided a template email that many agency leaders used, though it’s unclear if anyone made changes to the language about DEI reporting.
While the White House didn’t immediately respond to questions about what “adverse consequences” employees might face or how this would be enforced, the directive appears to be part of a broader effort to eliminate DEIA-related programs within the federal government.
This follows a string of actions from the Trump administration. On day one into his second presidential term, Trump signed an executive order aimed at shutting down DEIA and accessibility programs across federal agencies, claiming they divide Americans, waste taxpayer money, and foster discrimination. The same day, he also issued an order to redefine U.S. policy to only recognize two sexes—male and female—and revoked a long-standing executive order that prohibited discrimination by federal contractors on the basis of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin.
The shift is part of Trump’s ongoing push to roll back diversity-focused policies and make significant changes to how DEIA initiatives are handled in the federal government.
