Dozens of employees who attended a diversity training course encouraged by former Secretary of Education Betsy Devos during the first administration of President Donald Trump, have been paid as part of the Trump orientation of the Trump of the Dei programs, said a NBC News Union official.
Sheria Smith, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 252, which represents hundreds of employees of the Department of Education, told NBC News that at least 55 employees were licensed from Friday night and expected May the number grow as you learn more.
The affected workers included a specialist in public affairs, civil rights lawyers, programs managers analysts; Loan regulators and employees who work to ensure that children with special needs with individualized education programs obtain the necessary adaptations of schools.
A letter to the affected employees obtained by NBC News said they would continue to receive their salary and complete benefits and that it would not be required or expected to perform tasks related to the work or enter the office during the license. He also said that his email would be suspended.
“It seems that they are catching people, because they encouraged people to take these training … and now they are perhaps using these workouts as a basis to put them on administrative license,” said Smith.
Smith added that she is worried that Trump, who has said she wants to eliminate the education department, expects “employees to eliminate themselves.”
“I think it’s shock and astonishment. They are trying to send us emails that make no sense and are super confused, intimidate or to scare us, so we renounce, ”said Smith.
“They are trying to make employees feel that they will soon be fired. And at the same time, they are trying to attract employees with an offer to pay for eight months of salary if they simply resigned, “Smith added.” So it seems that he is choosing between affirmatively renouncing, where they say that it is possible that they possibly pay for eight months of salary and benefits, or eventually say goodbye. ”
Smith and Brittany Holder, a spokeswoman for the American Federation of Government employees, believe that hundreds of employees attended the training of agents of change of diversity. A shared email with NBC News shows that the department in 2019 had the objective of training 400 employees under this program.
In the email shared with NBC News, which was sent during Trump’s first mandate, a human resources officer with the Department of Education wrote to employees that they encourage them to take a two -day voluntary course as part of the training of training of the “agency change agent” of the agency. In March 2019.
The email said: “We have 25 seats available for this course. The strategic and comprehensive approach of the department to equip personnel with skills to lead a diverse workforce includes the program of agents of change of diversity. It is expected that the graduates of this Course serve as models to follow, passing some of their official activities of time to carry out activities designed to improve the capacity of the education department to attract and retain a diverse workforce. This effort is essential to maintain a clear and effective program in everything The department “.
The email also said: “Thank you for helping us to advance to achieve the objective of 400 agents for change of diversity throughout Ed. Your positive actions are the catalyst of our trip to achieve the diversity and inclusion objectives of ED.”
Subodh Chandra, a civil rights lawyer who represents one of the employees placed on license paid in the civil rights office of the Department of Education, told NBC News that his client was appointed for the Employment, Commitment and Diversity and Inclusion Council Formed during Trump’s first mandate. For their appointed politicians, Kimberly Richey and Kenneth Marcus. Chandra said his client is a West Point graduate, an army veteran and a former prosecutor who is confused about permission.
“My client, a veteran, did nothing to violate any executive order. Nor any of his similar colleagues. He doesn’t even direct a “Deia” project. He was just a member of an inactive committee in which he was appointed by Trump’s own politicians from the first mandate, “said Chandra.
In general, dozens of workers from the Department of Education and Energy who did not work specifically on roles of diversity, equity and inclusion have been paid as part of Trump’s effort to eliminate Dei’s initiatives throughout the federal government, according to Smith and Holder.
Holder said that in the Department of Education, the union believes that there were only two employees in specific roles of Deia and that both workers were licensed a few days after Trump assume the position. Then, last Wednesday night, at least two more employees who attended diversity training were licensed. Then Friday night Dozens of employees who attended the diversity training were informed by email that were being leave permission.
Holder said separately, that at least 14 employees of the Department of Energy were put on a paid license as part of Trump’s executive order aimed at Deia programs. She said that only three of the employees had titles specifically related to diversity and inclusion positions and that others had work that included tasks such as encouraging veterans to work for the energy department, as well as working with employee data data To improve workplaces. Many of the positions were part of the “Culture Office”, but most did not work in Deia’s programs.
“People are worried that they will lose their jobs,” said Holder. “People are worried and angry.”
A spokesman for the Department of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comments.