U.S. Department of Education Takes Bold Step to End DEI Programs: What This Means for Schools and Students

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Education is making significant changes by removing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. This includes cutting references to DEI from public communications and placing employees involved in these initiatives on administrative leave.

This shift follows an executive order from President Trump aimed at addressing what his administration views as “illegal discrimination and wasteful spending” within the federal government.

As part of this initiative, the department has archived or deleted many DEI-related documents and training resources from its website. Additionally, it has disbanded two important councils: the Diversity & Inclusion Council and the Employee Engagement Diversity Equity Inclusion Accessibility Council (EEDIAC).

These councils were immediately dissolved under the executive order titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.”

Other actions taken by the department include:

• Canceling DEI training and service contracts worth over $2.6 million.
• Withdrawing the department’s Equity Action Plan.
• Placing staff focused on DEI initiatives on paid administrative leave.
• Identifying more than 200 DEI-related web pages for removal.

The department plans to keep reviewing its programs and materials to remove what it sees as a “divisive DEI agenda.” Officials will also examine the language used in public communications to avoid terms that could support DEI activities.

This move is part of President Trump’s broader strategy to reshape federal agencies by eliminating programs focused on diversity. The Department of Education’s goal is to prioritize “meaningful learning” over what it calls divisive ideological programs in schools.