Pentagon Pauses Diversity Initiatives Following Trump's Executive Order
The Pentagon's intelligence agency has paused various diversity, equity, and inclusion event programs following President Trump's executive order against DEI initiatives, despite some events remaining federal holidays.
In response to President Donald Trump's executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, the Pentagon's intelligence agency has paused special event programs and related events. This includes observances for significant occasions such as Juneteenth, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black History Month, Holocaust Days of Remembrance, and Pride Month. This information comes from a memo obtained by ABC News.
Despite these changes, the memo clarified that Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth will remain federal holidays. In a statement regarding the memo, Lt. Cmdr. Seth Clarke, a spokesman for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), said, "The Defense Intelligence Agency is working with the Department of Defense to fully implement all Executive Orders and Administration guidance in a timely manner. As we receive additional guidance, we will continue to update our internal guidance."
The memo titled on January 28, 2025, outlined several events affected by the pause, including Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday, Black History Month, Women's History Month, Holocaust Day, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride, Juneteenth, Women's Equality Day, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and National American Indian Heritage Month.
This decision comes as Black History Month is approaching, starting on Saturday, February 1. Trump has made it a priority to challenge DEI initiatives through executive orders, with the White House asserting that "DEI creates and then amplifies prejudicial hostility and exacerbates interpersonal conflict."
In addition to pausing event observances, the memo indicated that the DIA would also halt Agency Resource Groups, Affinity Groups, and Employee Networking Groups effective immediately and until further notice.
