The intelligence agencies now overseen by the new Director of National Intelligence, Tulis Gabbard, have quickly adopted President Donald Trump’s directive to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs.
On his first day back in the White House, the president signed an executive order to eliminate DEI programs in the federal government, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and National Security Agency (NSA) have been adapting accordingly.
“CIA is complying with the Executive Order,” a spokesperson said to The Daily Caller.
“We are laser-focused on our foreign intelligence mission. We are complying with the EO and [Office of Personnel Management] Implementing Guidance. CIA sent out a notice on 31 January stating that Agency Resource Groups (ARGs), Directorate Resource Groups (DRGs), and Workforce Partner Groups have been disbanded,” they said.
However, in 2019, the CIA bragged on X, “We’re proud to be featured as one of @Glassdoor’s picks for ‘Amazing Companies That Champion #LGBTQ Equality.’
The Caller said that in addition to groups for LGBTQ officers, the agency also had groups for African American and Asian American staffers as well.
“The CIA’s now deleted the Diversity and Inclusion page previously linked to a 2024 to 2027 CIA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Strategy, which the Caller learned is no longer in effect. The strategy does not appear on the agency’s site,” The Caller reported.
The FBI has also said it is also complying with the executive order and no longer has diversity listed as a core principle.
“The FBI is fully complying with the Executive Order regarding DEI programs and implementation guidance provided by the Office of Personnel Management,” a bureau representative said to The Caller.
“As a result, Diversity has been removed from the FBI’s list of organizational Core Values. Visual and informational materials promoting Diversity as a Core Value are being removed from FBI space,” the rep added.
The agency’s focus on diversity was particularly scrutinized after the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans last month. Some X users highlighted a post from the New Orleans office of the FBI focusing on diversity hiring.
“#FBINewOrleans is holding a Diversity Agent Recruiting event and we want to meet you! Agents and FBI executives will provide first hand information about a rewarding career,” the office said in a post linking to a website where prospective agents could apply.
But under Trump, the bureau’s focus, too, is changing.
“The removal of non-record visual and informational materials regarding the FBI’s Core Values is indicative of a need to update these materials and in no way violates our lawful records retention obligations under the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA),” the agency said to the Caller.
“Furthermore, while Diversity is no longer an organizational Core Value for our employees, the FBI continues its work to serve and protect all America,” it said.
The National Security Agency (NSA) also confirmed to The Caller that it was complying with the president’s executive order by using “DEI and Gender Ideology keywords” to review and remove materials on its own site.
“NSA has taken steps to ensure we are in full compliance with the Administration’s Executive Order regarding DEI functions and activities,” a spokesperson said. “As we receive additional guidance, we are working to ensure NSA programs, activities, policies, and guidance are updated to reflect White House policy.”
Gabbard said in 2022 that one reason she left the Democratic Party was its hyperfocus on identity politics.
“One of the main reasons I left today’s Dem Party is (because) of their obsession with race, sexuality & other externals instead of merit,” she said in a post on X that included a video of her interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters.
“America is the greatest country in (the) world because it’s a meritocracy. If we become a society based on externals, America’s excellence will be history,” she added.