In a surprising move, dozens of employees at the U.S. Education Department were told they’re being placed on paid administrative leave. This decision is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to phase out diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs across the federal government, according to sources familiar with the situation.

The affected employees received letters notifying them that their email accounts would be suspended but assured them they’d continue receiving paychecks for an indefinite time. The directive reportedly stems from guidance issued by the White House’s Office of Personnel Management in January, which called for the closure of all DEIA offices and programs.

At least 55 employees, including senior staff with decades of experience, were impacted. These individuals held roles ranging from civil rights attorneys handling discrimination cases to grant office workers and AI specialists. However, their job titles weren’t directly tied to DEIA initiatives.

Union officials say the move may be linked to employees’ past participation in diversity training programs. For example, some attended a mandatory two-day seminar in 2019 during Betsy DeVos’ tenure as Education Secretary. Others were involved in planning events like Black History Month celebrations or attended voluntary DEI-related sessions.

The union is now raising concerns that hundreds more employees could face similar measures, given the widespread participation in such training. “We’re still trying to figure out how many people this will affect and what exactly is going on,” said Sheria Smith, union president for Education Department career employees.

The White House has been ramping up efforts to remove DEI programs from federal hiring and contracts since last month. Critics argue that sidelining these employees disrupts the agency’s work. “The mission of the agency is stalled because this administration has forced these people to stop performing work for the American people,” Smith added.

As of now, the Education Department has not publicly commented on the situation. The move highlights the ongoing tension over DEI initiatives within the federal workforce.