The C.I.A. plans to dismiss a significant number of officers involved in recruitment and diversity efforts, potentially marking one of its largest mass firings. This action aligns with President Trump’s executive order restricting federal workforce diversity initiatives. The agency began notifying affected officers while a federal court has temporarily halted these firings. Historically, mass firings of employees executing prior administration’s policies are unusual. Many officers targeted are not diversity experts but trained in skills beneficial for recruitment. Legal representation asserts these firings contradict congressional mandates promoting diversity within intelligence agencies, which was a priority during the Biden administration.
Reports indicate that the C.I.A. has initiated the dismissal of an undisclosed number of personnel involved in recruitment and diversity efforts, as per former officials, marking one of the largest mass layoffs in the agency’s history.
This potential purge aligns with the agency’s intent to adhere to the essence of President Trump’s executive order that prohibits initiatives aimed at diversifying the federal workforce.
On Friday, the C.I.A. began summoning officers who were placed on administrative leave, instructing them to either resign or face termination; however, a federal court promptly intervened to suspend this process. A judge in the Eastern District of Virginia is set to conduct a hearing on Monday to evaluate a temporary restraining order against the agency.
Although it is common for presidents to mandate policy changes at the agency, the termination of career officers who have implemented the priorities of a previous administration is an uncommon occurrence, according to former officials. For instance, former President Barack Obama discontinued the C.I.A. interrogation program initiated under George W. Bush but opted not to dismiss the officers involved in the torture of Al Qaeda detainees.
The last significant dismissal at the C.I.A. occurred in 1977 when President Jimmy Carter instructed the agency to move away from covert operations. At that time, C.I.A. Director Stansfield Turner aimed to terminate the employment of 198 officers associated with clandestine activities. Nonetheless, even that reduction was executed with caution, preserving positions for some nearing retirement.
Kevin Carroll, a former C.I.A. officer and attorney representing 21 intelligence personnel who are suing to block the recent dismissals, mentioned that around 51 officers engaged in diversity and recruitment were undergoing position evaluations.
Mr. Carroll asserted that none of the officers targeted for dismissal are diversity specialists. He and other former officials remarked that these individuals had been assigned to their roles during the Biden administration due to their persuasive and recruiting skills, some of which were developed during their time as spies abroad.
“No one joins the C.I.A. to be a diversity recruiter,” Mr. Carroll stated.
Some officials previously expressed hopes that the agency would avoid firings related to diversity and that officers might return to their former roles of recruiting spies overseas.
Former officials contended that the national security exemption implemented by the White House for federal workforce reductions should have prevented these layoffs. Mr. Carroll explained that Mr. Trump’s executive order necessitated only the cessation of diversity programs, without mandating the termination of those executing these initiatives.
Enhancing diversity within the C.I.A. and other intelligence agencies was a key focus for William J. Burns, who led the agency during the Biden administration, and Avril Haines, the former director of national intelligence.
Mr. Carroll indicated that his clients had been executing directives from intelligence leaders and Congress, which called for diversification efforts in recent legislative authorizations.
“More than any other entity in the U.S. government, the C.I.A. has a critical need for diversity,” Mr. Carroll remarked. “We need personnel who can integrate seamlessly overseas.”