The Office of Personnel Management is shutting down all DEI programs and putting employees on administrative leave in preparation for a Reduction in Force. We can argue that, and have opinions, but the fact is that absent a ruling or act of Congress, this is something within the executive’s power to do and this executive told people he would do it.
The disturbing part here is Annex I. It directs ALL employees— whether they worked on DEI or not— to rat out colleagues who have been and who lawfully and within the scope of directions might have reframed DEI activities in advance of the new admin. It promises no consequences for reporting but adverse consequences if you were aware but do not.
This is Soviet shit. Placing the onus of reporting on everyone, introducing vague consequences that can be dangled over everyone’s head, direct people to find your political enemies for you rather than doing the bureaucratic work yourself. This is dark, and it’s normalizing repressive behavior. This is not asking employees to have an affirmative duty to report law breaking or security risks or violations of rules.
https://chcoc.gov/sites/default/files/OPM Memo Initial Guidance Regarding DEIA Executive Orders.pdf