A class-action lawsuit filed in federal court accuses the Trump administration of illegally firing or forcing out federal employees based on their real or perceived involvement in diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility roles, alleging the actions amounted to political retaliation rather than lawful policy changes.
The case, Fell v. Trump, was filed Dec. 3 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and claims that federal workers were "targeted for separation from the federal government" as a direct result of anti-DEI executive orders issued by President Donald Trump. The plaintiffs argue those directives were used to identify and remove perceived political opponents from the civil service.
At issue is whether the administration's effort to dismantle DEIA programs crossed legal boundaries protecting federal employees from discrimination and politically motivated punishment. The lawsuit contends the firings were not neutral workforce reductions but "targeted actions intended to punish perceived political enemies."
One former employee described the personal toll of the alleged purge, saying, "I feel betrayed. I dedicated years to improving equity in our agency, and then I was told my work made me a target." The complaint says similar experiences were shared by workers across multiple agencies.
According to the filing, many of the affected employees served under both Republican and Democratic administrations and held career civil service positions. The lawsuit argues that labeling them as "DEI" staff reduced complex professional duties to a political marker and stripped them of long-standing protections.
The complaint places the actions in the context of Trump's repeated public attacks on "DEI" in the run-up to the 2024 election. It says the term was used broadly and pejoratively, without a clear definition, and tied to political and cultural ideologies the president opposed.
Legally, the plaintiffs allege violations of several statutes and constitutional provisions, including:
- The First Amendment, which protects federal employees from retaliation based on perceived political views
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination based on race, sex and other protected characteristics
- The Civil Service Reform Act, which limits politically motivated personnel actions
The lawsuit claims the executive actions produced a "disparate impact" on women, non-binary employees and people of color, groups that are disproportionately represented in DEIA-related roles.
The White House has rejected the allegations. In a statement, spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the president "has the lawful authority and mandate to prevent unlawful spending on unconstitutional endeavours," adding that staffing decisions were consistent with that authority.
The plaintiffs are seeking reinstatement, back pay, restoration of benefits and compensatory damages. They have also requested a jury trial, setting the stage for a closely watched legal fight over the limits of executive power and the political neutrality of the U.S. federal workforce.
