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.
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.
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