US Department of Education purges DEI programs: Key update on recent actions

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 Key update on recent actions

US Education Department moves to eliminate DEI: A closer look at the actions so far

In a sweeping move that marks a significant shift in federal education policy, the

US Department of Education

(DoE) announced on January 23, 2025, the dismantling of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The changes align with the

Trump administration

’s broader strategy to eliminate DEI programs across federal agencies, which the administration has labeled as “harmful” and “divisive.”
President Donald Trump, through a series of executive orders, has called for the immediate cessation of DEI programs, characterizing them as “dangerous, demeaning, and immoral.” In the days following the orders, the Department of Education began removing references to DEI from its public-facing materials and put employees overseeing these initiatives on paid administrative leave. The decision underscores a contentious debate over the role of DEI programs in federal institutions.
Key Actions Taken So Far By the DoE
As part of this new direction, the Department of Education has implemented a series of actions aimed at removing DEI from its internal and external operations. Here is a summary of the key steps taken so far.

Dissolution of DEI Councils: The Department has officially dissolved two major DEI councils—the Diversity & Inclusion Council (DIC) and the Employee Engagement

Diversity Equity Inclusion

Accessibility Council (EEDIAC). These councils were not exclusive to the DoE but were part of broader federal initiatives to promote DEI across agencies. The DIC was established under President Obama's Executive Order 13583 in 2011 to promote diversity and inclusion within federal agencies. Although the DoE had a representative, the council itself was a cross-agency body. The EEDIAC, based within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the DoE, focused on improving DEI within the Department, ensuring its policies and programs aligned with these values. Their termination follows President Trump’s executive orders, which rescind previous mandates supporting such programs.
Suspension of DEI Training and Contracts: The Education Department has canceled ongoing DEI-related training and service contracts, which were valued at over $2.6 million. These contracts were previously used to fund DEI seminars, workshops, and consulting services, which the current administration believes promote unnecessary spending and ideological bias.
Employee Review and Administrative Leave: In a move to reassess the Department’s workforce, officials responsible for overseeing

DEI initiatives

have been placed on paid administrative leave. This measure is part of a broader evaluation to ensure that any federal workers involved in advancing divisive policies are removed from key positions.
Archiving DEI Resources: The Department has identified and removed over 200 web pages from its public-facing website that featured DEI resources. These pages were deemed to be promoting divisive ideologies and are now archived or deleted. The Department has also begun a thorough review of all its public communications for any further DEI-related content.
Equity Action Plan Withdrawn: The Equity Action Plan, a comprehensive strategy designed to embed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles into educational institutions, has also been rescinded. This plan previously outlined specific measures to address disparities in educational access and outcomes for underrepresented groups, such as racial minorities and economically disadvantaged students. Key components included increased funding for schools in underserved areas, guidelines for inclusive curriculum development, and training programs to help educators recognize and mitigate implicit bias.
Broader Implications Across Federal Agencies
A memo from the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), sent to federal agencies earlier this week, instructed heads of government departments to place DEI employees on administrative leave by January 24, 2025. Agencies have been tasked with submitting detailed plans for the termination of DEI offices and programs by the end of the month.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the OPM’s guidance and reiterated the administration’s position that DEI programs contravene US
civil rights laws. According to the administration, these initiatives, while intended to address historical underrepresentation, have instead perpetuated ideological divisions and discriminatory practices.
A Defining Moment for Federal Education Policy
The Trump administration’s decision to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives represents a watershed moment in the fraught debate over the role of inclusivity in federal governance. By removing programs aimed at addressing systemic inequities, the administration signals a fundamental departure from policies prioritizing equity in education and the workplace.
As federal agencies, including the Department of Education, proceed with implementing these changes, the broader implications for educational equity and workplace inclusion remain shrouded in uncertainty. This moment underscores the administration’s broader ideological pivot, setting the stage for a contentious chapter in policymaking.

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