The Department of Labor has instructed its employees to report any colleagues who prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, according to an internal email obtained by WIRED.
The email asks workers to flag behaviors that occurred before Donald Trump’s second inauguration, signaling a retroactive enforcement of the directive.
One employee described the request as a “reminder to narc on your coworkers,” characterizing the tone of the communication as unsettling.
The order follows a broader federal push to dismantle DEI programs across government agencies, a key priority for the administration.
The directive does not specify which actions count as prioritizing DEI, leaving interpretation up to individual employees.
This ambiguity has raised concerns among staff about potential misuse of the reporting system for personal or political grievances.
The Department of Labor has not issued a public statement clarifying the scope or intent of the directive.
Federal workers now face pressure to monitor colleagues while navigating uncertain guidelines about acceptable workplace behavior.
