Diversity
‘Highly problematic for a thousand reasons’: NIH employees criticize Trump-era requirement to scrutinize grants with words related to diversity
One staffer said that officials are employing more systematic methods to pinpoint NIH-funded research that the administration may object to, but that the additional reviews are time-consuming and lack transparency.
Contractors sue to block Trump’s federal DEI executive order
The lawsuit alleges minority-owned businesses are being forced to trade their First Amendment rights for federal contracts.
A hiring rule meant to help people with disabilities get federal jobs instead left them more vulnerable to DOGE mass firings
Several fired Schedule A employees who spoke with Government Executive say they’re still struggling to find new full-time employment after losing their federal jobs.
Federal contractor DEI initiatives singled out in latest Trump executive order
Trump’s anti-diversity directives already impacted contractors, but the new order imposes additional requirements.
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The Trump administration paid these employees not to work for more than a year. It just called them back
Some employees sidelined for their diversity and inclusion jobs received a one year, stress-ridden sabbatical, but are now returning to similar jobs.
Interior renews campaign for employees to snitch on ‘DEI discrimination’ in the department
The refusal to participate in DEI activities is covered by whistleblower protection laws, DOI says.
LGBTQ data is disappearing under Trump, reports find
Government agencies have gotten rid of gender identity and sexual orientation data elements from over 360 data collections over the last year.
Indian Affairs regional employees have more work and fewer people to do it, watchdog reports
Officials from one region said that Trump staff cuts impaired a response to a wildland fire, while others characterized disbursing Inflation Reduction Act funds as an “unfunded mandate.”
Watchdog flags gaps in Coast Guard’s handling of discrimination complaints
More than half of the incidents analyzed in the report, which looked back to fiscal 1998, occurred between fiscal 2019 and 2024.
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A thinning roster at Indian Affairs leaves tribes wondering who’s left to help, watchdog reports
Indian Affairs’ workforce has decreased by 11% since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term.
ICE is scrutinizing work from home permissions for its employees with disabilities, continuing trend across government
The immigration enforcement agency said there was a “dramatic surge” in telework and remote work reasonable accommodation requests after President Donald Trump ended work from home flexibility for federal employees.
Exclusive
Trump’s return-to-office mandate exempted feds with disabilities. Many are being ordered to work in-person anyway
Some agencies have put new conditions on granting telework as a reasonable accommodation for federal employees with disabilities.
A pandemic-era NSF internship pilot may have done more than fill a temporary gap
The remote program may have helped students who could not take part in person and offers lessons for how internships could work going forward.
Ex-feds axed in DEI purge file class action suit
A group of four former federal employees described the mass reduction in force of those in purportedly “diversity”-related jobs as a means for the Trump administration to “punish perceived political enemies” and disproportionally targeting protected-class employees for dismissal.
Proposed FAR changes remove contractor diversity requirements, keep disability rules
COMMENTARY | The new language follows one of President Trump’s first executive orders to eliminate diversity requirements in federal contracts.
Rule limiting ‘outstanding’ performance ratings for agency senior executives finalized
The final rule also strikes promotion of diversity and inclusion as a criteria for appraising senior executives.
‘I cried so many times’: Watchdog warns that agency guidance for changing employee names is lacking
While the four agencies that the Government Accountability Office analyzed generally had required procedures, nearly all employees that investigators interviewed reported issues navigating the process.
Federal contract employees who alleged discrimination forced to wait as enforcement agency is dismantled
Layoffs are scheduled to take effect at the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs on June 6. Between the reduction in force and separation incentives, the agency’s workforce is expected to shrink by about 90%.
Agencies with majority women and minority workforces are some of the hardest hit in Trump staff cuts, new report finds
The National Women’s Law Center argued that the administration’s widespread layoffs are weakening a pathway for women and people of color to achieve greater financial security.
Limited number of agency senior executives could be rated as ‘outstanding’ under Trump proposal
The Trump administration has sought to exert more political influence over members of the senior executive service.
There’s no more DEI at DOD, watchdog finds
But most of the roles were eliminated last year by an act of Congress.
