TVA has joined other federal agencies in removing references to diversity, equity and inclusion from its website following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, which terms the programs under his Democratic predecessor “discrimination.”
“Reversing the progress made in the decades since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 toward a colorblind and competence-based workplace, radical DEI has dangerously tainted many of our critical businesses and influence institutions, including the federal government,” the order said.
The Tennessee Valley Authority also won’t release another annual report on its diversity efforts, which were previously published in response to a now-rescinded executive order under former President Joe Biden, according TVA spokesperson Scott Fiedler. TVA’s first diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility report was published in 2022, and it showed that of the agency’s approximately 10,000 workers, nearly 80% were male and 89% were white. The agency released three such reports.
Within days of taking office, Trump instituted a hiring freeze on civilian employees “for all executive departments and agencies,” ordered remote workers to return to the office and directed all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff to be placed on paid leave and eventually laid off. Asked whether TVA will lay off employees focused on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, Fiedler said the agency doesn’t comment on personnel matters.