Trump places DEIA office employees on immediate paid leave, sparks Panama Canal dispute

New Delhi, Jan 22: President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the US Justice Department to recommend that private sector educational institutions receiving federal funding end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes, according to a report by the BBC.

A memo from the US Office of Personnel Management details the administration’s plans to dismantle DEI and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives across federal agencies.

Key measures outlined in the memo include:

Federal employees working in DEIA offices to be placed on immediate paid leave, with a deadline of 17:00 EST (22:00 GMT) today for agencies to initiate the closure of all DEIA programmes and offices.

Removal of all DEIA-related content from government websites and social media platforms by the same deadline, with mandatory cancellation of any ongoing DEIA-related training.

Agencies must submit a comprehensive report by Thursday, detailing all diversity and equity offices and personnel and by 5 Pm EST agencies are required to propose a “reduction-in-force action” plan to outline job cuts associated with DEIA programmes.

DEI policies are implemented across public and private sectors that aim to address systemic barriers and provide equal opportunities to underrepresented groups based on factors such as gender, ethnicity, sexuality, religion, and disabilities. The DEIA framework further incorporates accessibility measures to support individuals with disabilities in the workplace.

Panama Rejects Trump’s Panama Canal Remarks

Meanwhile, President Trump has ignited a diplomatic spat with Panama by suggesting the US should “take back” the Panama Canal, a crucial global trade route.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino strongly refuted Trump’s claims that the canal is being operated by China and that American ships face unfair treatment. Mulino emphasised that the canal “was not a concession or a gift from the United States” and firmly asserted Panamanian sovereignty over the waterway.

During his inaugural address, Trump accused Panama of breaking its commitment to neutrality and alleged that US vessels were being “severely overcharged.”

The 51-mile (82 kilometer) Panama Canal is a vital artery for global trade, facilitating approximately 5% of the world’s maritime commerce.

Mulino dismissed Trump’s allegations as “false,” reiterating that the canal belongs to the people of Panama and remains under their control.

As tensions rise, analysts are watching closely to see how these developments will impact US-Panama relations and the broader geopolitical landscape.

Attorneys General from 22 States Sue Trump Over Birthright Citizenship Order

Attorneys general from 22 states filed lawsuits in two federal courts on Tuesday, challenging President Donald J Trump’s executive order that seeks to deny US citizenship to children born in the country to unauthorised immigrants, The New York Times reported.

The lawsuits mark the beginning of what is expected to be a protracted legal battle over the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Eighteen states, joined by the cities of San Francisco and Washington, DC, filed their lawsuit in Federal District Court in Massachusetts, arguing that the 14th Amendment guarantees birthright citizenship automatically and that neither the president nor Congress has the authority to alter this constitutional right. A separate lawsuit, brought by four additional states, was filed in the Western District of Washington.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J Platkin, who is leading one of the legal efforts alongside his counterparts in California and Massachusetts, criticised the order as “extraordinary and extreme,” as reported by the NY Times.

“Presidents are powerful,” Platkin said, “but he is not a king. He cannot rewrite the Constitution with a stroke of the pen.”

President Trump signed the executive order, at the outset of his second term, declaring that children born to undocumented immigrants would no longer be considered US citizens. The directive also extends to certain children of legal temporary residents, such as foreign students and tourists.

The executive order argues that children born to non-citizens are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States, and therefore, according to the administration, they do not fall under the constitutional protections of the 14th Amendment.