Federal Dei Websites Go Dark After Trump Order And Threat Of ‘consequences’

Federal government websites devoted to diversity, inclusion and equity went offline Wednesday as the White House threatened “adverse consequences” for agencies that fail to report DEI-related information within 10 days.

The sites went down a day after the Office of Personnel Management sent a memo to all agencies Tuesday calling for all DEI workers to be placed on paid leave by 5 p.m. Wednesday. One of the instructions in the letter directed agency heads to remove “all outward facing media” related to DEI work by 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Emails sent to agency staff across the government — including those working at the departments of Health and Human Services, State, Agriculture, Homeland Security and others — on Wednesday used OPM language that said it is “aware of efforts by some in the government to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language.” The emails call for employees to report any change in DEI contract or personnel position descriptions made since the election to OPM.

The emails add: "There will be no adverse consequences for timely reporting this information. However, failure to report this information within 10 days may result in adverse consequences."

Each web page touted certain aspects of DEI and the respective agency’s commitment to it. For example, an archived version of the page for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said the agency understands and supports “the value of diversity in improving organizational efficiency and effectiveness.”

The National Institutes of Health page outlined a strategic plan for DEI and a framework to apply it to the agency’s mission, according to an archived version preserved by the Internet Archive.

HHS, CMS, NIH and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Other web pages that focus on health equity remain in place. A web page detailing CMS’ Office of Minority Health, for instance, was online Wednesday evening. A DEI website for the National Science Foundation was still standing Wednesday evening.

Chelsea Ciruzzo, Erin Schumaker, Sophie Gardner, Daniella Cheslow contributed to this report.