1. United States
2. Wisc.
3. Letter

The recent actions by the Trump administration to place over 50 senior level employees of the Department of Education on paid administrative leave is deeply concerning. Removing dedicated public servants without due process or justification undermines the principles of good governance and erodes public trust. Many of these individuals have served the department diligently for decades, working to ensure quality education for all. This mass suspension appears to stem from the administration's opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the federal workforce. However, promoting DEI is vital for building an effective and representative government that serves all Americans fairly. Attempts to eliminate these efforts are misguided and will only breed further division. I urge you to intervene and reinstate these employees unless there are legitimate, documented grounds for their removal that follow proper protocols. Enabling the arbitrary dismissal of civil servants opens the door to politicizing the federal workforce in a way that undermines its integrity and independence. Protect these public servants and the democratic values they uphold through their service. The American people deserve a professional, non-partisan civil service.