Labor Department Tells Workers to Report Any DEI Activities

The Department of Labor is urging its employees to report violations of the Trump administration’s ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.

The email, sent to DOL workers late last week and reviewed by Bloomberg Law, said that “DEI-related discrimination” could include any employment action that’s motivated by an employee’s or applicant’s race, sex, national origin, or religion. It could include practices like demographic targets or quotas in hiring or promotion, excluding candidates from training or networking opportunities, and DEI trainings that “stereotype or demean employees.”

The memo shows the DOL’s commitment to continuing the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on diversity initiatives following a 2025 executive order. In the last year, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shifted to focus enforcement on the practices. The Justice Department last year also warned workers that there could be “adverse consequences” for failing to report DEI programs within the government.

Violations of the policy should be flagged to the Office of Special Counsel, an independent watchdog agency that investigates misconduct within the federal government. Reports to the OSC carry special whistleblower protections against retaliation and the special counsel can seek remedies including back pay, damages, and disciplinary action, according to the email.

“Any retaliation will result in prompt disciplinary action, up to and including removal,” the email said. “You are protected even if the underlying concern is ultimately not substantiated, as long as your report was made in good faith.”

The email was first reported by Wired.

Workers can report alleged violations for up to three years under OSC’s statute of limitations, meaning they can flag instances from the Biden administration.

It also advised employees to report to the DOL’s internal Civil Rights Center, which administers the Equal Employment Opportunity program, although aggrieved individuals only have 45 days to report alleged discriminatory practices.

The memo came from a “DOL Guidance and Information” email account but was not signed by an individual official. A DOL spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.