CIA Plans Largest Mass Firing in 50 Years

THE NEWS

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has initiated plans for its largest mass firing in nearly 50 years, targeting officers involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

This move comes in response to President Trump's executive order banning DEI efforts across the federal government.

The agency began notifying employees on administrative leave to either resign or face termination, though a federal court has temporarily halted the process.

TIMELINE

January 20, 2025: Executive Order Issued

• President Trump signs an executive order ending DEI programs across the federal government.

January 22, 2025: CIA Review Begins

• CIA places approximately 51 officers on administrative leave due to their involvement in DEI functions.

February 14, 2025: Termination Process Starts

• CIA begins summoning officers on administrative leave, instructing them to either resign or face termination.

February 18, 2025: Legal Challenge Filed

• A lawsuit is filed on behalf of 11 CIA employees challenging their dismissals.

February 19, 2025: Temporary Stay Issued

• Judge Anthony Trenga issues a temporary stay on firing 11 CIA employees involved in DEI programs.

February 20, 2025: Mass Firing Plans Revealed

• NYT reported that C.I.A. has moved to dismiss an unspecified number of officers who were working on recruiting and diversity issues, according to former officials, in what would be one of the largest mass firings in the agency’s history.

• The C.I.A. on Friday began calling in officers who had been put on administrative leave and telling them to resign or be fired, but a federal court soon halted that action.

REACTIONS

Kevin Carroll (Attorney for affected employees): None of the officers the agency wants to fire are diversity experts. The officers had been ordered during the Biden admin to take the posts because of their skills at persuasion and recruiting, abilities that in some cases they honed while working as spies overseas.

Trump DOJ: Congress vested CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, with the authority to fire personnel when they deem it "necessary or advisable" in the national interest.

WHAT'S NEXT

A judge in the Eastern District of Virginia is scheduled to hold a hearing on Monday to consider a temporary restraining order against the agency.