Several individuals who were among the first to be dismissed by the Trump administration are contesting their termination. This group includes those who were involved in initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion under the Biden administration, according to NPR’s Andrea Hsu.
Mahri Stainnak, a former employee of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), recalls receiving an unexpected call shortly after President Trump resumed his role in the White House. The call, which came from the Office of Personnel Management, informed Stainnak of the decision to place them on leave immediately, as part of an executive directive to close offices dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Stainnak expressed surprise, asserting that they were not in a role related to diversity, equity, and inclusion at that time, having recently accepted a position as director of OPM’s talent innovation group.
Stainnak, who uses they/them pronouns, previously served as the deputy director of OPM’s DEIA office during President Biden’s term, focusing on issues impacting LGBTQ workers within the government. Despite not holding a DEI-related position at the time of the firing, Stainnak was let go, prompting them to assert that these actions were unjust and based on preconceived notions about employees’ roles or values.
Similarly, Sherrell Pyatt, who worked under FEMA to enhance equity in the distribution of government resources, was also put on leave despite not being in a DEI role. Pyatt, who is the sole Spanish speaker on her team, had been aiding Latino communities in understanding available government aid. Before this, she was involved in implementing Trump’s policies, including facilitating congressional inquiries at the border.
Pyatt, a long-term federal employee with a familial legacy of civil service, emphasizes that her work remains nonpartisan, dedicated to homeland protection. She argues that the removal of experienced personnel results in a loss of institutional knowledge, negatively impacting broader communities.
Federal employees, unable to directly contest their dismissal in court, must seek redress through the Merit Systems Protection Board, which faces its own challenges of understaffing due to the firing of one of its members by Trump. Kelly Dermody, an attorney handling a class complaint regarding DEI-related terminations, expressed concern about the current inefficacy of the board’s processes.
Dermody contends that many valuable federal employees are affected by these DEI orders. Meanwhile, the White House maintains that Trump possesses the authority to manage executive branch personnel, including the termination of what he considers unlawful DEI initiatives.
