Trump administration warns ATF after agency fails to terminate DEI-related employee

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration issued a memo this week warning federal agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), to comply with executive orders terminating all Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) programs and positions. The move comes after the ATF reassigned its former Chief Diversity Officer, Lisa T. Boykin, instead of terminating her position as required.

Trump administration memo warns agencies after atf gives chief diversity officer a new title — Photo: trump administration memo warns agencies after atf gives chief diversity officer a new title

Boykin, who previously led the agency’s diversity efforts, has been reassigned to a newly created title, Senior Executive, sparking allegations that the agency is circumventing the executive order. The memo, sent to all federal agency employees, outlined steps to dismantle DEIA offices and warned of consequences for failing to report attempts to obscure DEIA-related roles or contracts.

The memo reads, “We are taking steps to close all agency DEIA offices and end all DEIA-related contracts in accordance with President Trump’s executive orders… These programs divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination.” It further instructed employees to report any changes to personnel or contract descriptions “to obscure the connection between the contract and DEIA or similar ideologies” within 10 days.

As of Thursday evening, Boykin remained listed as an executive leader on the ATF’s website, raising questions about whether her reassignment complies with the administration’s directive. The memo warned of “adverse consequences” for failing to comply with reporting requirements or to implement the executive orders fully.

The ATF has not responded to requests for comment on Boykin’s status or the reasons behind her reassignment.

Shore News Network Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.