In a significant move, the US Department of Education placed over 50 employees on paid administrative leave on Friday, February 2, 2025, as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to dismantle diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives within the federal government.
Paid leave as a consequence of policy shift
The affected employees, including senior-level career officials, were informed that their email accounts were suspended and they would be placed on paid leave, continuing to receive their paychecks for an indefinite period. The decision is part of broader executive actions aimed at eliminating DEIA-related roles across government agencies. This latest action comes just days after the White House issued new directives for federal agencies to curtail DEIA programs, effective January 31, 2025.
According to the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents the Education Department’s career staffers, at least 55 employees were impacted. These staff members, although not holding positions directly related to DEIA, had participated in diversity training seminars in 2019 and during the Biden administration, which likely led to their inclusion in the move. The affected employees include civil rights attorneys handling student discrimination cases and staffers working on artificial intelligence projects in education.
The role of diversity training in the shake-up
Sheria Smith, union president for the Department of Education’s career employees, highlighted that many of those placed on leave had attended required diversity training during the Trump administration’s first term. These sessions, strongly encouraged for other employees, were part of a broader push to promote diversity and inclusion efforts. As reported by CNN, the union expressed concerns that the large participation in these sessions could mean even more employees are at risk of being affected in the future.
Growing concern over the impact on agency functions
The union raised alarms over the potential disruption this shake-up could cause within the agency. As quoted by the CNN, Smith stated, “The mission of the agency is stalled because this administration has forced these people to stop performing work for the American people.” Employees currently placed on leave have not been disciplined, according to the department’s letters, but the long-term consequences on the agency’s efficiency remain unclear.
This action underscores the broader policy changes from the White House, which ordered the suspension of DEIA programs across federal agencies and restricted their use in hiring and contracting. As the Department of Education begins to realign its workforce, the ripple effects of these changes are expected to be felt across the government.
