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Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Firing Intelligence Officers in DEI Roles

The ruling allows 19 officers to appeal their terminations and remain on paid leave, marking a setback for the administration's broader anti-DEI policies.

The logo of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency is shown in the lobby of the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia March 3, 2005. U.S. President George W. Bush visited the headquarters for briefings Thursday. REUTERS/Jason Reed JIR/File Photo
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, left, joined by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, testifies as the House Intelligence Committee holds a hearing on worldwide threats, at the Capitol, in Washington, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and U.S. Air Force Lt. General and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Jeffrey Kruse attend a House Intelligence Committee hearing about worldwide threats, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on March 26, 2025.
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Overview

  • U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga ruled that 19 intelligence officers assigned to DEI programs must remain on administrative leave with full pay and benefits while appealing their terminations.
  • The Trump administration's executive orders aimed to dismantle DEI programs across federal agencies and contractors, citing a shift to merit-based policies.
  • The judge's decision permits the officers to seek reassignment within the intelligence community, rejecting the administration's claim that their terminations were non-reviewable.
  • The ruling is expected to impact an additional 39 intelligence officers in similar positions who were also placed on administrative leave.
  • This legal development highlights ongoing challenges to the administration's anti-DEI measures, which have faced mixed outcomes in courts and sparked broader debates over workplace equity.