A federal judge has temporarily halted the termination of multiple intelligence officials engaged in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work, marking an early legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s executive order dismantling DEI initiatives across the federal government.
The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga, blocks the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from firing 11 anonymous federal employees.
The plaintiffs, described in the lawsuit as “nonpartisan civil servants serving in a vital national security role,” claim they were placed on administrative leave in January as part of the Trump administration’s effort to eliminate DEI programs.
The officials argue that their removal violates the Administrative Leave Act, as they were given no specific allegations against them, no opportunity to appeal, and no formal notice beyond being told to surrender their intelligence community (IC) badges.
Trump’s executive order, signed on his first day back in office, directs federal agencies to dismantle DEI programs across the government, including within the intelligence community.
Federal agencies began complying immediately, but this lawsuit raises the question of whether intelligence officials can be fired based solely on their previous roles in implementing DEI policies.
The legal dispute also touches on the CIA director’s broad authority to dismiss employees deemed no longer in the national interest. The agency reportedly invoked this power to justify the firings, but the plaintiffs’ attorney, Kevin Carroll, argues that such authority only applies to national security concerns, not to political or administrative purges.
“They say this is to comply with the executive order, which is really dumb because the executive order talks about ending DEI functions. It doesn’t say you have to fire DEI personnel,” Carroll said.
Judge Trenga has requested further clarification on which agency regulations apply and what potential irreparable harm the plaintiffs might face. The next hearing is scheduled for February 24, setting up what could be a significant legal battle over the limits of executive authority in reshaping the intelligence workforce.
