WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Dozens of U.S. government workers linked to diversity initiatives but whose jobs are not directly related to diversity, equity and inclusion have been placed on leave after President Donald Trump ordered the elimination of DEI positions, the Washington Post reported on Saturday.

The Post said its findings suggest some federal agencies may be using the order by Trump, a Republican, to broadly target “people who have expressed interest or participated in programs related to” DEI.

The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

DEI programs seek to promote opportunities for women, ethnic minorities, LGBT people and other traditionally underrepresented groups. Civil rights advocates argue such programs, generally backed by Democrats, are needed to address longstanding inequities and structural racism.

At least 50 employees at the Education Department who were involved in initiatives such as diversity training or an affinity group were affected, even though “almost none of them worked in jobs directly related to DEI,” the newspaper reported.

It identified similar occurrences at the Energy Department and the Office of Personnel Management, affecting around a dozen other federal workers.

Trump last week signed an order calling for the elimination of government diversity programs, including the ending of all federal offices and jobs related to DEI and put all federal DEI office staff on paid leave as their offices face closure.

(Reporting by John Kruzel; Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by William Mallard)