The Department of Labor requires employees to report anyone who prioritizes DEI

late last week, staff in Ministry of Labor We received a long email strongly urging them to file whistleblower complaints and report cases”Diversity, equity and inclusion“Discrimination or retaliation related. In short, employees were required to alert the government to DEI compliance in any way.

The email, sent Friday and viewed by WIRED, appeared to be a “reminder to your co-workers to do DEI,” says one DOL employee who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. The notice was titled “Reporting Discrimination, Retaliation, and DEI-Related Whistleblower Disclosures” and came from the “DOL Guidance and Information” email account. It has not been signed by any particular member of DOL leadership.

“DEI-related discrimination occurs when any employment action (hiring, promotion, access to training, mentoring, assignments, awards, etc.) is motivated in whole or in part by the race, color, sex, national origin, religion, or other protected characteristic of the employee or applicant.” More details on what exactly constitutes “DEI-related discrimination” includes “limiting networking or professional development events to specific racial, gender, or ethnic groups”; “Awarding of recognition, compensation, or opportunities is based in part on contribution to Diversity Goals rather than metrics”; and “Any preference or disparate treatment justified by ‘diversity’ or ‘fairness’.”

The email also reminds employees that the statute of limitations for reporting is three years, which would theoretically allow employees to report events before President Donald Trump takes office in January 2025. Instructions on how to submit a whistleblower report to the Office of Special Counsel are also included in the email.

The Ministry of Labor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Since the beginning of Trump’s second term, his administration has targeted DEI initiatives. In January 2025, Trump signed an agreement Executive order Titled “Ending Unlawful Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” it orders agencies to end all DEI initiatives and actions. Soon after, federal employees Receive emails Requiring them to report colleagues whose jobs relate to DEI, and threatening them with “severe consequences” if they do not.

DOL employees who spoke to WIRED say they have no idea why the email was sent now, so long after the initial executive order. “It’s witch hunt territory — very dangerous and easily abused. Many of us had DEI activities in our performance standards under the previous administration. This would make those activities a punishable offense,” says another DOL employee who also requested anonymity. “Anyone who has an ax to grind can come back and say, ‘This person did DEI training three years ago. “This was discrimination. ‘And you’re going to get in trouble for basically doing your job. I think they’re trying to establish a culture of fear.’

Earlier this month, The DOL quietly installed Kenneth Wolfehead of the agency’s religious office, to lead the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), charged with ensuring federal contractors comply with anti-discrimination laws. According to the Department of Labor’s 2027 budget, OFCCP will be phased out and eventually absorbed into a new Office for Civil Rights. As president of the DOL Faith Center, Wolf A Monthly worship service What employees told WIRED at the time made them feel uncomfortable.