Trump steps up campaign to end various government programs Via Reuters

Written by Daniel Trotta

(Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump stepped up his attack on diversity programs on Tuesday by pressuring the private sector to join the initiative, ordering airline officials to review a variety of hiring and telling employees of the DEI government offices and programs that they will be placed on paid leave.

The moves come one day after Trump on his first day in office issued a series of executive orders to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, which attempt to promote opportunities for women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people and other traditionally underrepresented groups.

Human rights advocates have argued that such programs are necessary to address chronic inequality and racism.

In a new executive order issued on Tuesday, Trump urged businesses to “end discriminatory and illegal DEI options” and asked federal agencies to identify private companies that could be investigated.

Repeals administration policies dating back to 1965 on environmental action, equal employment opportunities and incentives for government contractors to achieve workforce equality regarding race, gender and religion.

“As part of this initiative, each agency will identify up to nine potential investigations into the public compliance of publicly traded corporations, large nonprofit organizations, foundations with assets of $500 million or more, state and local medical institutions, and institutions of higher education with endowments of more than $1 billion,” the order said.

Details on how the Trump administration will enforce the “public policy investigation” were not immediately available.

The order issued on Tuesday means that the selection of private sector jobs for army veterans can continue.

On the other hand, the Trump administration ordered departments and agencies of the United States government to disband all DEI programs, advising employees of such programs to be immediately placed on paid leave.

The government should close work on Wednesday to notify employees of offices or government units that deal exclusively with DEI that their programs will be closed and employees placed on leave, the Office of Personnel Management said in a memorandum.

Trump also signed a memorandum on Tuesday ending the Biden administration’s plan to promote diversity at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), ordering the FAA Director to immediately halt DEI hiring programs, the White House said.

Trump has ordered the FAA to conduct a safety inspection that will replace any workers who fail to demonstrate proficiency.

“President Trump is immediately ending this illegal and dangerous program and requiring all FAA employees to be solely responsible for ensuring air passenger safety and operational efficiency,” the White House said.