ATF Renames Chief Diversity Officer Lisa T. Boykin to Evade Trump's DEI Ban, USOPM Also Implicated

Jan 23, 2025, 04:30 AM

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has reportedly attempted to circumvent President Donald Trump's executive order, signed shortly after his inauguration, aimed at dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government. The agency allegedly changed the job title of its Chief Diversity Officer, Lisa T. Boykin, from 'Chief Diversity Officer' to 'Senior Executive.' This move comes in response to Trump's order, which required all DEI hires to be placed on paid leave by 5pm Wednesday and warned against using 'coded or imprecise language' to disguise DEI programs. The ATF's action was noticed by online observers and has drawn criticism as an attempt to preserve DEI initiatives despite the executive order. Other federal agencies, such as the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (USOPM), have also been implicated in similar efforts to hide DEI programs under different names, such as 'Special Emphasis Programs.'