Trump and Musk continue assault on diversity
A right-wing nonprofit backing Donald Trump has published the names and photos of more than 50 federal employees, many of them Black, in a move that civil rights advocates warn could endanger lives and deepen systemic discrimination in government agencies. The “DEI bureaucrat watch list,” compiled by the American Accountability Foundation, identifies workers based on their support for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, past social media activity, or donations to Democratic candidates.
The employees — many of them serving at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other federal health agencies — have been labeled by the organization as “woke DEI devotees” and targets for termination under Trump’s administration.
The group claims these individuals are “anti-American bad actors.” The organization has circulated dossiers detailing their purported offenses, which include reposting content about racial disparities in health care or making critical remarks about Trump’s policies.
Supporters of the targeted workers have expressed alarm, warning that the public identification of government employees in this manner could lead to harassment, violence, and job loss. One federal employee whose name appeared on the list told The New York Times, “My name and picture are out there. In 2025, it’s very simple to Google and look up someone’s home address. What happens next?”
Another individual described the move to NBC News as “psychological warfare” against civil servants simply trying to do their jobs.
The list is part of a broader right-wing effort to dismantle diversity programs and purge public institutions of individuals seen as obstacles to Trump’s agenda. The American Accountability Foundation, founded in 2020 to undermine the Biden-Harris administration, has ramped up its efforts since Trump’s return to power along with Elon Musk.
The organization has been financially backed by groups like the Heritage Foundation, which authored the Project 2025 blueprint that outlines an aggressive strategy to reshape the federal government along far-right ideological lines.
Thomas Jones, president of the American Accountability Foundation, admitted in an interview with The New York Times that his group did not attempt to verify the employment status of those it targeted or reach out for comment before compiling the list. “I’m busy. I’ve got a lot of stuff to do,” Jones stated when asked about the lack of verification efforts.
Civil rights leaders and legal experts say the move reflects a growing trend in which Trump-aligned organizations seek to eliminate diversity-focused policies and intimidate those advocating for equity. “This is a scare tactic to intimidate people from doing their jobs,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, in comments reported by NBC News. “It’s clear racism.”
The federal employees on the list are not high-level policymakers but career professionals in public health, research, and regulatory affairs. Some were singled out for social media posts made years before they entered government service.
“This is a return to blacklisting,” said Timothy Welbeck, director of Temple University’s Center for Anti-Racism, in comments reported by NBC News. “From McCarthy-era tactics to modern-day doxxing, the goal remains the same: silence opposition and dismantle diversity efforts.”
Stacy Brown is an NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent. Connect with her on social media at @StacyBrownMedia.