The Trump administration is ordering all federal employees in diversity, equity and inclusion roles placed on paid leave by Wednesday evening, according to a new memo from the Office of Personnel Management.

President Donald Trump’s administration is moving to end affirmative action in federal contracting and is directing that all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on paid leave and even

The White House confirmed that all federal DEI staff had to be put on leave by 17:00 EST (22:00 GMT) on Wednesday, before the offices and programmes in question were shut down. Since re-taking office on Monday,

Trump's executive order ends the government's DEI programs, impacting everything from anti-bias training to funding for minority homeowners.

Federal employees in DEI roles will be placed on leave by 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to an OPM memo, following President Trump's executive order.