Whether from the stage of the 2025 Grammys ceremony in Los Angeles, or from education leaders in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump is being assailed for his plans to demolish DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs. Acclaimed musician Alicia Keys, upon accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award on Sunday, voiced her support for the programs, stating that “DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift. This is not the time to shut down the diversity of voices.
“The more voices, the more powerful the sound,” Keys continued, prompting applause from the audience. “When destructive forces try to burn us down, we rise from the ashes like a phoenix and as you see tonight, music is the unstoppable language that connects us all, it’s so beautiful.”
Keys, resplendent in an array of jewelry, did not mention Trump’s name, but that wasn’t necessary since she has criticized him in the past, and even called for his removal from office during his first term.
Sheria Smith, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, which represents hundreds of Education Department employees, echoed Keys’ concerns and noted earlier that at least 55 employees had been placed on leave as of Friday evening. She expected the number to increase as more information was disclosed.
Among the affected workers are civil rights lawyers, program analysts, loan regulators, and, most critically, employees who work to ensure that children with special needs in the nation’s schools are properly cared for. According to the letter addressed to the employees and obtained by NBC News, workers would continue to receive their full salaries and benefits and would not be required to do their jobs. Moreover, access to their emails would be suspended.
“It looks like they’re entrapping people because they encouraged people to take these trainings [which ironically had been created and organized by Betty DeVos, Trump’s former Secretary of Education] and are now maybe using these trainings as a basis to put them on administrative leave,” Smith surmised. These measures, Smith suggested, coincide with Trump’s plan to eliminate the Department of Education, and maybe, she added, with hopes “employees will eliminate themselves.
“They’re trying to make employees feel like they will soon get fired. And at the same time, they are trying to entice employees with an offer to pay them eight months’ salary if they just resigned,” Smith said. “So it seems as if you’re choosing between affirmatively resigning, where they’re saying that you might possibly get paid eight months’ salary and benefits, or eventually getting fired.”
Thank you for spelling out the positives of DEI and the consequences Trump’s attack on equal opportunity.