Federal DEI websites taken down following Trump order and warnings of 'consequences'
The websites experienced outages a day following a memo issued by the Office of Personnel Management on Tuesday, which directed all agencies to put their DEI workers on paid leave by 5 p.m. Wednesday.
TroibNews 
Federal government websites dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) were taken offline on Wednesday after the White House warned agencies of “adverse consequences” if they did not report DEI-related information within 10 days.
The shutdown of the sites followed a memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent to all agencies on Tuesday, which mandated that all DEI personnel be placed on paid leave by 5 p.m. Wednesday. One directive in the memo instructed agency leaders to eliminate “all outward facing media” related to DEI initiatives by the same deadline.
On Wednesday, agency staff, including those at the departments of Health and Human Services, State, Agriculture, and Homeland Security, received emails incorporating OPM language indicating that the agency is “aware of efforts by some in the government to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language.” The correspondence urged employees to report any changes in DEI contracts or personnel position descriptions since the recent election to OPM.
The emails further emphasized: "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."
Previously active web pages highlighted specific aspects of DEI and the commitment of relevant agencies. For instance, an archived version of the page for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services stated that the agency recognizes and supports “the value of diversity in improving organizational efficiency and effectiveness.”
According to archived content preserved by the Internet Archive, the National Institutes of Health had detailed a strategic plan for DEI alongside a framework for incorporating it into the agency’s mission.
HHS, CMS, NIH, and the White House did not provide immediate responses to requests for comments.
Web pages focusing on health equity, however, remained accessible. For example, a webpage concerning CMS’ Office of Minority Health was still online Wednesday evening, as was the DEI website for the National Science Foundation.
Contributors to this reporting include Chelsea Ciruzzo, Erin Schumaker, Sophie Gardner, and Daniella Cheslow.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
The shutdown of the sites followed a memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent to all agencies on Tuesday, which mandated that all DEI personnel be placed on paid leave by 5 p.m. Wednesday. One directive in the memo instructed agency leaders to eliminate “all outward facing media” related to DEI initiatives by the same deadline.
On Wednesday, agency staff, including those at the departments of Health and Human Services, State, Agriculture, and Homeland Security, received emails incorporating OPM language indicating that the agency is “aware of efforts by some in the government to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language.” The correspondence urged employees to report any changes in DEI contracts or personnel position descriptions since the recent election to OPM.
The emails further emphasized: "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."
Previously active web pages highlighted specific aspects of DEI and the commitment of relevant agencies. For instance, an archived version of the page for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services stated that the agency recognizes and supports “the value of diversity in improving organizational efficiency and effectiveness.”
According to archived content preserved by the Internet Archive, the National Institutes of Health had detailed a strategic plan for DEI alongside a framework for incorporating it into the agency’s mission.
HHS, CMS, NIH, and the White House did not provide immediate responses to requests for comments.
Web pages focusing on health equity, however, remained accessible. For example, a webpage concerning CMS’ Office of Minority Health was still online Wednesday evening, as was the DEI website for the National Science Foundation.
Contributors to this reporting include Chelsea Ciruzzo, Erin Schumaker, Sophie Gardner, and Daniella Cheslow.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
