President Donald Trump's administration initiates sweeping personnel changes across federal agencies following his return to the White House.
According to Daily Mail, the Trump administration ordered all government Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) offices to cease operations by Wednesday at 5 pm, putting employees on paid leave with expectations of eventual termination.
The directive comes as part of Trump's broader mission to dismantle Biden-era diversity initiatives, which his executive order labeled as "forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs." White House staffers have begun identifying and removing over 1,000 presidential appointees from the Biden administration whom Trump views as impediments to his reforms.
Admiral Linda Lee Fagan, the first woman to lead a U.S. military service, was dismissed from her position as Coast Guard commandant two years into her four-year term. The administration cited her "excessive focus" on diversity initiatives and alleged neglect of key responsibilities. Fagan had previously faced criticism from senators over her handling of sexual assault investigations at the Coast Guard Academy.
Trump also signed an executive order stripping security clearances from more than 50 former intelligence officials who had questioned the authenticity of Hunter Biden's laptop in 2020. These officials, including former Obama administration figures James Clapper and John Brennan, had suggested the laptop story showed signs of Russian disinformation.
General Mark Milley, who had been serving on Biden's National Infrastructure Advisory Council, was removed from his position. The White House ordered the Pentagon to take down Milley's official portrait within two hours of Trump taking office.
Trump's administration has moved swiftly to reverse Biden's policies on gender identity and military service. The president rescinded 78 executive actions implemented by Biden, including the order allowing transgender individuals to serve openly in the military.
Former Trump advisor Brian Hook spoke about Hook's dismissal from his position leading the State Department transition team. Hook's removal surprised many, as he had previously supported Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran. Trump claimed on social media that Hook was "not aligned with our vision to Make America Great Again."
Trump officials estimate between 9,000 and 14,000 transgender service members could be affected by the new policies. The administration has also announced that the federal government will only recognize two genders - male and female - which could impact federal funding for certain medical procedures.
Several Biden appointees have either resigned or been removed from their positions, including former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms from the President's Export Council. Bottoms, who had established Atlanta's first Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as mayor, claims she submitted her resignation before Trump could fire her.
Celebrity chef José Andrés also departed from his role as co-chair of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. Andrés and Trump had a previous legal battle after the chef pulled out of a restaurant deal following Trump's controversial comments about immigrants during his 2016 campaign.
The administration's cleanup continues to expand beyond DEI-focused positions. White House sources indicate this marks the beginning of Trump's renewed efforts to "drain the swamp" and reshape the federal government according to his vision.
The Trump administration's post-inauguration personnel changes have affected military leadership, intelligence community veterans, and diversity initiative leaders across the federal government. Through executive orders and direct dismissals, Trump has begun dismantling Biden-era policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion while installing officials aligned with his vision. The restructuring impacts thousands of federal employees and signals significant changes in military service requirements, gender recognition policies, and federal workplace culture.
