The U.S. Department of Education has placed dozens of employees on paid administrative leave following President Donald J. Trump's executive order targeting
At least 55 employees were placed on leave as of Friday evening, with numbers expected to rise. The affected employees span various roles across the department, including civil rights attorneys, program manager analysts, loan regulators, and staff working on special education accommodations.
Most notably, many of the affected employees had participated in the department's "Diversity Change Agent" training program, which was actively promoted during Trump's first administration when Betsy DeVos served as Education Secretary. A 2019 email from the department's human resources office revealed a goal of training 400 employees through this voluntary program, encouraging staff participation as part of the agency's strategic approach to workforce diversity.
The situation has raised concerns about what some view as a contradictory stance, given that the department previously encouraged participation in these training programs.
Employees placed on leave received notification that they would continue receiving full salaries and benefits but were instructed not to perform work-related tasks or enter office premises. Their email access was immediately suspended. The department emphasized in its communications that the leave was not for “any disciplinary purpose.”
The impact extends beyond the Education Department. At the Department of Energy, at least 14 employees have been placed on similar leave, with only three holding specific diversity and inclusion positions. The majority worked in roles such as veteran recruitment and workplace improvement initiatives.
