At least 160 EPA staffers put on leave, leaders cite Trump DEI order

Feb. 7 (UPI) -- The Trump administration placed at least 160 Environmental Protection Agency employees on paid leave, effective immediately, on Thursday evening, following through on President Donald Trump's executive order eliminating so-called diversity, equity and inclusion programs and initiatives.

Staffers were told the move was part of an effort to comply with Trump's executive order eliminating DEI positions, ABC News and CNN reported, citing multiple unnamed sources. There are few specifics about the leave and how long it would last.

Environmental justice employees in regional field offices were told earlier this week not to come to work, reports said. In total, at least 1,000 EPA staffers have received notices telling them they are on probation and could lose their jobs.

"This is the call we have all dreaded," acting Assistant Administrator of the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights Theresa Segovia said on a recording of the call provided to CNN.

Segovia added that the affected employees still have time to take advantage of a Trump administration buyout offer from the government, the deadline for which was extended by a judge earlier Thursday.

The employees who have been put on leave are part of the EPA's environmental justice division, which employs about 200 people overall. Trump's DEI executive order calls for the complete elimination of "'environmental justice' offices and positions."