Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Firing of 11 Intelligence Officers Over DEI Roles

The decision pauses terminations tied to Trump's executive order and grants time for legal arguments on alleged due process violations.

U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga issued a temporary administrative stay halting the firing of 11 intelligence officers from the CIA and ODNI who were assigned to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs.
The officers, described as nonpartisan career professionals, argue their terminations are arbitrary, violate due process, and are unsupported by evidence of misconduct or poor performance.
President Trump’s executive order ending DEIA initiatives across federal agencies did not explicitly call for the firing of employees temporarily assigned to such roles.
The lawsuit claims the officers were targeted due to perceived political beliefs and that agency leaders violated legal procedures, including the Administrative Leave Act and constitutional protections.
The intelligence officers remain on paid administrative leave as the court awaits the Trump administration’s response, due by Thursday, February 20, 2025.