New round of 'DEI' cuts had 'nothing to do with' DEI: report

A new report shows federal workplace safety regulators ordered the destruction of several guides that mention diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that President Donald Trump's administration has opposed.

Investigative reporter Judd Legum exposed the change Monday, highlighting that while the Occupational Safety and Health Administration guides use the words "diverse," they aren't within the context of DEI initiatives.

The books appeared to be targeted with a keyword search — and an indiscriminate ax.

"For example," he wrote on Bluesky, "one of the purged publications is 'OSHA Best Practices for Protecting EMS Responders During Treatment and Transport of Victims of Hazardous Substance Releases.' On page 94, the words 'diversity' and 'diverse' are used in a context that has nothing to do with race or gender."

ALSO READ: It's official: Conservatism is dead — and what's replaced it is far worse

"The publication notes there is a 'diversity of state-specific certification, training, and regulatory requirements' for 'EMS agencies' and 'diverse conditions under which EMS responders could work,'" he explained, with a screen capture.

Another guide he cited is "Guidelines for Nursing Homes: Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders." On Page 10, it suggests work-related musculoskeletal disorders could "be related to genetic causes, gender, age, and other factors." The use of the word "gender" triggered the book to be purged because DEI addresses gender disparities in hiring practices, as Forbes described.

Of the 18 publications the Trump team ordered to be purged, just one dealt with topics the Trump administration may find objectionable: "Restroom Access for Transgender Workers, Best Practices."

See the full list of publications and details here.