Trump's Education Department dismantles DEI measures, suspends staff
WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Education officials moved swiftly this week to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion measures and staff following President Donald Trump's executive order Monday rolling back such provisions across the federal workforce.
The agency said Thursday it put employees charged with leading DEI initiatives on paid administrative leave. A spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request seeking clarity about how many staffers had been suspended.
Officials also said they canceled millions of dollars in contracts related to DEI trainings and services.
The department pledged Thursday to remove more than 200 webpages officials said housed DEI resources for schools and colleges. Two internal groups for employees created to foster diversity and inclusion among staffers were dissolved.
Earlier in the day, the agency announced nearly a dozen new political appointees for top leadership positions. Many of the newcomers previously held posts at the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned think tank led by Linda McMahon, the president's nominee for education secretary. But other key positions, including the top official overseeing U.S. colleges, remain unfilled.
Read more: Where does Linda McMahon, Trump's education secretary nominee, stand on key issues?
The Senate committee that oversees education has yet to share the timing for McMahon's confirmation hearing. Congress is awaiting the completion of an Office of Government Ethics review of her disclosures, which is taking longer than usual. A spokesperson for the ethics office wouldn't elaborate on the delay Thursday, saying the agency doesn't discuss the specifics of individual cases.
On Monday, Trump appointed Denise Carter, who began leading the Education Department's Federal Student Aid office while Joe Biden was president, as the acting secretary.
Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump's Education Department is cutting DEI programs and staff