Federal DEI employees placed on paid leave amid White House upheaval

The White House has directed government agencies to prepare to terminate workers in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) roles, after ordering that all such workers be placed on paid leave by Wednesday evening. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement saying: “President Trump campaigned on ending the scourge of DEI from our federal government and returning America to a merit based society where people are hired based on their skills, not for the color of their skin.” She claimed that Americans of “all races, religions, and creeds” would benefit from the move. Elsewhere, Admiral Linda Fagan, the first female leader of the U.S. coastguard, has been dismissed by Benjamin Huffman, the acting secretary of homeland security, due to alleged “leadership deficiencies.” A senior Department of Homeland Security official said that Fagan failed to address border security threats and mismanaged acquisitions, while also focused excessively on DEI programs. The official noted: “The failure to adequately address the systemic issues exposed by this investigation has underscored a leadership culture unwilling to ensure accountability and transparency.”