A federal judge has given the green light for C.I.A. director John Ratcliffe to dismiss intelligence officers involved in diversity initiatives. This ruling may lead to further terminations at the agency.
Judge Anthony J. Trenga stated he would have ruled differently if the case centered on fairness. However, he concluded that the law allowed Ratcliffe to fire employees without court oversight.
This decision aligns with President Trump’s executive order, which prohibits diversity efforts in federal agencies. While it’s unclear how many officers may be affected, legal representatives mentioned that the agency is considering firing up to 51 individuals so far. Additionally, some probationary workers might also face dismissal, and midcareer employees are being encouraged to explore other opportunities.
During the court session, ten officers who had sued to block their terminations were present. They appeared discouraged after the judge decided not to grant a temporary restraining order, suggesting their case was unlikely to succeed.
Kevin Carroll, the attorney for the officers, argued that his clients had acted appropriately and even received multiple job offers within the C.I.A. He mentioned one data scientist who had nine different positions available to him.
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Source linkDecisions and Verdicts,Espionage and Intelligence Services,Diversity Initiatives,Suits and Litigation (Civil),Central Intelligence Agency,Ratcliffe, John Lee (1965- )
