The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has been accused of allegedly quietly reassigning its former diversity officer as chairman Donald Trump Ordered all federal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) employees on paid leave.
“ATF defied @reldonaldtrump’s order to put DEI workers on leave, instead they give their DEI officer a new title. They are attacking citizens’ rights, disregarding leadership, and acting like they are above the law. Enough time. Time to repeal to repeal ATF! ” Republican Missouri Tail. Eric Burlison published X.
ATF, the federal law enforcement agency under the Justice Department umbrella, previously hired Lisa T. Boykin as chief diversity officer before her title was changed this week on the ATF website to “Senior Executive Director” with ATF. An archived ATF website link reviewed by FOX Digital Shows Boykin was listed as chief diversity officer as early as Tuesday — Trump’s second day in the Oval Office — and now shows her working as a “senior agency executive.”
During his campaign, Trump railed against DEI programs and offices at the federal level, as well as in the education system. After assuming office on Monday, he repealed the executive order by repealing “Illegal DEI and ‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility’ (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences and activities in the federal government, by whatever name they appear.”
President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on January 20, 2025. (Photo by Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
The next day, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) told agency and department leaders to begin shutting down DEI offices and placing DEI employees on paid leave.
Trump’s dismantling is deeper and bigger than you even know
Lisa T. Boykin official photo for ATF. (ATF)
“Send a notice to all employees about Diversity, equality, inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) offices to be placed on paid administrative leave immediately, as the agency takes steps to close/terminate all DEIA initiatives, offices and programs,” the OPM directive, obtained by Fox News Digital, read.
A 2023 bio for Boykin detailed that she began working as ATF’s Human Resources Division in 2016 and “as a collateral duty, in 2021, Ms. Boykin also began serving as the Office’s Chief Diversity Officer,” the New York Post reported.
“With the office’s continued focus on improving DEI, Ms. Boykin currently assumes the role of CDO in a full capacity, leading and implementing departmental programs and mandates, while bringing a renewed vision and effective strategies to maintain an informed DEI culture for the Bureau,” Boykin added.
The White House OPM is ordering all DEI offices to close by the end of the day Wednesday
When asked about the title change and subsequent criticism on social media, an ATF spokesperson said the agency was following DEI directives from the Trump administration.
ATF seal. (Photo by Ted Soqui/Corbis via Getty Images)
“ATF began implementing OPM’s initial guidance to Deiji immediately following its issuance on January 21, 2025, in response to Presidential Executive Order. We have proactively taken the necessary steps to ensure compliance with these guidelines, including placing influential personnel on administrative leave,” an ATF spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital reached out for clarification on whether Boykin’s new title protects her from administrative leave, but did not immediately receive a response.
Fox News Digital also reached out to Boykin on its ATF email and received an automated response saying he was unavailable for comment.
“I am currently unavailable and unable to return emails at this time,” the email said.
Social media comments and critics of the Biden administration’s diversity initiatives have nearly changed the headlines of ATF employees on social media, disguising the agency as “circumventing” Trump administration orders.
Biden has championed diversity initiatives under his administration, reversing policies from the first Trump administration that banned diversity training in government agencies during his first week in office in 2021.
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“In the coming weeks, I will reaffirm the federal government’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and accessibility, building on the work we began in the Obama-Biden administration. That’s why I’m rescinding the previous administration’s harmful ban on diversity and sensitivity training,” Biden said in January 2021.” Unity and healing must begin with understanding and truth, not ignorance and lies.”
