Washington | The Trump administration on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) ordered that officials tasked with overseeing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across federal agencies be placed on administrative leave and that all initiatives taking place across the government be brought to a halt.

In a memo from the Office of Personnel Management, the heads of departments and agencies were ordered to purge such officials by placing all DEI staff on paid administrative leave, effective immediately, by 5pm on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), and to make plans for staff reductions by the end of the day on Friday.

Reuters