All Federal DEI Employees Will Have Email Access Suspended And Be Placed On Leave Wednesday

By close of business Wednesday, diversity, equity and inclusion offices within the federal government will be shut down. And all federal employees assigned to these DEI offices will have their email access suspended and be placed on paid leave. These employees’ status will remain until such time as the Trump administration makes decisions regarding layoffs and alternative placements.

Suspending Email Access May Seem Disciplinary

One of the key points of communication that department heads will have with DEI employees is to tell them that these actions are not disciplinary. They may not be intended as disciplinary but by suspending access to email accounts, it will certainly feel that way.

Summary of Dates and Process for Closing DEI Offices

By Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 5 p.m. EST—Government Heads Must:

1. Distribute a department or agency-wide notice informing everyone that all DEI offices are closing.
2. Ask employees to disclose anything they know about anyone making attempts, or seeking, to disguise DEI programs by using “coded or imprecise language.”
3. Notify all DEI employees that they will be placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately.
4. Remove all outward-facing media (digital, electronic and in print) that promotes DEI programs and services.
5. Cancel all trainings, events, etc. connected to DEI.
6. Terminate all DEI contractors.

By Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 12 p.m. EST—Government Heads Must:

1. Update OPM on all steps taken the prior day (Wednesday above) to effectively shut down DEI offices.
2. Provide OPM with a listing of all DEI offices and the names of all employees within those offices.
3. Provide a complete listing of all DEI contracts to OPM.
4. Provide assurances for how the department or agency will effectively comply with President Trump’s executive order.

By Friday, January 31, 2025, by 5 p.m. EST—Government Heads Must:

1. Provide OPM a written reduction-in-force (layoff) action plan regarding DEI employees.
2. Provide descriptions for all contracts or personnel positions that were “changed since November 5, 2024, to obscure their connection to” DEI programs.

Key Points of Communication with DEI Employees

After the department or agency head explains to employees that all DEI offices will be closed, OPM informs them to communicate directly with DEI employees and explain:

1. Employees will be immediately placed on paid administrative leave.
2. These actions are not disciplinary.
3. Employees will continue to receive full salary and benefits during the entire time on administrative leave.
4. Employees are not required or expected to perform any work tasks while on leave.
5. Employees are not required or expected to come into the offices.
6. Employee email access will be suspended.
7. Employees need to provide updated contact information.
8. Employees will receive updates when available.

DEI Employees Won’t Be the Only Ones Struggling

Wednesday will likely be very challenging for many executives, supervisors and managers as they have dual duty with managing what’s sure to be a chaotic change process. These heads, chiefs and managers will need to deal with their own lack of understanding and emotions as well as their employees’ lack of understanding and emotions.

Planned Layoffs After Suspending Emails?

President Trump signed the executive order Monday. OPM sent out the guidance memo Tuesday. And current employees will lose access to their email accounts and be sent home on paid administrative leave Wednesday.

When DEI employees leave their jobs and offices at the end of the day, they will know that the Trump Administration has requested that the department and agency heads submit reduction-in-force (layoff) plans no later than Jan. 31.

Layoff plans for whom? That’s just one thing that will linger with these employees after Wednesday.

Conclusion

The suspension of email access and placement of DEI employees on paid administrative leave is a significant change that will have a lasting impact on the federal government. While the administration has stated that these actions are not disciplinary, the uncertainty and lack of clarity surrounding the future of these employees will likely cause stress and trauma.

FAQs

Q: What is the purpose of the executive order?

A: The executive order aims to eliminate discriminatory programs and policies within the federal government.

Q: What is the timeline for the closure of DEI offices?

A: DEI offices will be closed by Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 5 p.m. EST.

Q: What will happen to DEI employees?

A: DEI employees will be placed on paid administrative leave and their email access will be suspended.

Q: Are these actions disciplinary?

A: No, according to the administration, these actions are not disciplinary.

Q: What is the next step for DEI employees?

A: DEI employees will be required to provide updated contact information and will receive updates when available.