The Department of Defense (DOD) is the latest agency to disband all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs following President Donald Trump’s executive order ending all federal DEI programs.
“The President’s guidance (lawful orders) is clear: Defense Department Day is gone,” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote in an X post.
In a handwritten note shared alongside X’s post, Hegseth wrote:
Hegseth added, “Anyone who doesn’t comply doesn’t work here.”
White House OPM orders all DEI offices to begin closing by end of Wednesday
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. Echoing Hegseth, “The best way to stop discriminating against people on the basis of race or sex is to stop discriminating against people on the basis of race or sex,” Kennedy wrote. Post to X. “Dei Let Dei”.
Hegseth, 44, was sworn in on Saturday morning after securing confirmation to lead the Pentagon after weeks of intense political drama surrounding his nomination and public scrutiny of his personal life on Friday. Ta.
“All praise and glory to God. He did it and we are grateful to be here,” Hegseth said after taking the oath of office surrounded by his wife and children.
Hegseth is a former member of the Minnesota National Guard who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and is a former Fox News host.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the end of all DEI programs and policies at the Pentagon. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Trump’s newly created Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, reported that approximately $420 million has been canceled in current/imminent contracts primarily focused on DEI initiatives.
On Inauguration Day, Trump signed an executive order forcing all DEI offices to close and placing all government workers in those offices on paid leave.
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Pete Hegseth is surrounded by his wife and his seven children being sworn in by Vice President J.D. Vance in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 25, 2025. Robert Schmidt/afp)
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Charles Ezell issued a memo to department and agency agents instructing them to notify all agency employees of the DEI closure by close of business on January 22nd. I sent you. Additionally, we require workers directly involved in DEI to remove all DEI-related websites and social media accounts, cancel related contracts and training, and use coded or inaccurate language in employees. and to report efforts to disguise DEI programs. .
The memo also directs agencies and departments to provide OPM with a list of all DEI offices, employees, and associated related contracts as of November 5, 2024, by noon on January 23. I gave instructions to the person in charge.
By 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 24th, the Agency Director must provide OPM with a written plan to implement the reduction actions for DEI employees and any contract descriptions or personnel positions that have changed since November. I had to submit a list of explanations. .
The president also mandated “the official policy of the United States government to recognize only two genders, male and female.”
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President Trump targeted diversity in gender identity and executive orders. (Getty Images/AP)
Trump has issued two other enforcement actions targeting DEI. This includes an executive order to end workplace discrimination and higher education through racial and gender-based preferences disguised as DEI, as well as a memo eliminating Biden administration policies prioritizing federal DEI hiring. Published. Aviation management.
In the executive order, Trump wrote that he sought to protect Americans from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. He said these civil rights protections “serve as the bedrock supporting equality of opportunity for all Americans,” and he is committed to “ensuring that these laws are enforced for the benefit of all Americans.” “There is a solemn obligation to do so.”
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“Still, nearly 60 years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, many of American society, including the federal government, large corporations, financial institutions, the medical industry, large commercial airlines, law enforcement agencies, and Important and influential institutions believe that higher education institutions are promoting so-called “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) or “dangerous, despicable, and immoral practices under the guise of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.” adopt and actively use racially based preferences. ‘(deia) may violate the citizenship laws of this country,’ the order reads.
These “illegal DEI and DEIA policies are targeting Americans across the country by reducing the importance of individual merit, aptitude, hard work, and determination in selecting people for jobs and services in key sectors.” Add that it threatens the safety of men, women, and children in American society at all levels of government, including the medical, aviation, and law enforcement communities.
Prior to Trump’s order, the FBI closed its DEI office in December.
Fox News’ Brooke Singman, Brie Stimson, Michael Dorgan and Landon Mion contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
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