The Defense Intelligence Agency has ordered a pause of all activities and events related to Martin Luther King Jr., the month of black history, Junetethent, LGBTQ Pride Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day and other “special observances” for Comply with the executive order of President Donald Trump, according to a memorandum obtained by NBC News.
The memorandum listed 11 observances that are now prohibited. He also said that all affinity groups and “employee networks” are immediately in pause.
The directive occurs when the Trump administration has turned the highest priority after any perceived program that is related to the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion in the federal government.
The day did not immediately return a request for comments.
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Last week, the Department of Justice sent a memorandum to the staff announcing the closure of all its Dei programs, saying: “These programs divided Americans per race, wasting dollars from taxpayers and resulted in shameful discrimination.”
On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order that described “the termination of all discriminatory programs, including the illegal mandates of DEI and” diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility “(Deia), policies, programs, preferences and activities in the federal government. “
A similar email left the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services last week, notifying employees that all affinity groups, also known as employee resources groups, were “being dissolved and special observances are being canceled” .
Employee resource groups, which exist in the public and private sectors, are voluntary groups led by employees for people with similar history or experiences. Common groups include one for American natives, LGBTQ people, black employees, women and veterans, among others.
Other agencies have also finished its ERG, including the Pride Doj, the LGBTQ employee resources group of the Department of Justice that has existed for 30 years.
Juneteenth settled as a federal holiday only four years ago, during the Biden administration. Also known as Emancipation Day, Black Independence Day and Jubilee Day, vacations commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.
It was the first federal festival created since 1983, when Martin Luther King Jr. was established on the day.
Andrea M. O’Neal, a former White House official who helped boost federal policies and observances behind the month of black history under President Joe Biden, said that observances allow a total recognition of US history.
O’Neal also said that they help raise awareness about what communities are experiencing that they can have a direct impact on how the federal government can help them serve them better.
“This type of reversal is demoralizing for communities that finally had a seat on the table [and] They were finally recognized for their contributions, ”said O’Neal.
“When presidents and governments decide who is important [and] Who does not, that has downstream effects that may not yet understand completely, ”said O’Neal, and added that the changes implemented in the executive order will make people feel less comfortable at work and make them have a lower moral , he added.
Troy Blackwell, who worked for the Department of Commerce in the Biden Administration, said that a large part of Dei implies making the policies and resources accessible to unattended communities.
In his last year working for the Commerce Department, Blackwell and his team opened libraries of patent resources and brands registered in historically black institutions and universities and universities.
“I am disconsolate for being honest,” said Blackwell. “What is happening is negligible and I think it is definitely a sign of government overreach.”
“We celebrate the month of black history knowing that there has been a history of slavery and Jim Crow and civil rights and what that has done to the fabric of the United States and the contributions of African Americans who have been overlooked over Not decades, but centuries “,”, centuries “,”, centuries “, centuries,” centuries “added Blackwell, who is Afro-Latin.” He works his team was built by slaves. “
Trump’s inauguration was held on MLK’s day this year.
In a speech after his swear ceremony in the Rotonda del Capitol, Trump recognized the historical importance of the holidays and spoke directly to the black and Hispanic voters who voted for him last year.
“For the black and Hispanic communities, I want to thank you for the tremendous effusion of love and trust that you have shown me with your vote,” he said, added: “Today is Martin Luther King Day. And his honor, this is a great honor.