Trump 2. Election period live updates: Musk ‘in the process’ to ‘shut down’ USAID, he says

Dozens of the Department of Education employees received letters on Friday night and placed them on “Administrative Leave” that immediately became effective.

While no specific reason was given, employees told ABC News on Sunday that they believe the only common thread between them is that they participated in a volunteer training program in 2019, during President Donald Trump’s first period.

ABC News has received the letter saying that the administrative leave message is not for disciplinary purposes; Rather, the letter said it is related to Trump’s executive order of diversity, justice, inclusion and accessibility. Employees were told to await “additional guidance from OPM”, according to the letter referring to the Office of Personnel Management.

According to the letter, employees will receive full pay and benefits through the end of the administrative leave, but they are not required to perform work -related tasks during this time or enter the office. At the same time, the affected employees got their state e -mail access suspended.

Sheria Smith, American Federation of Government -Employees Local 252 President, ABC News told that over 50 employees in “extremely different roles” within the department had received e emails after regular opening hours this weekend.

Smith said she fears that more letters will be sent in the coming days.

ABC News did not receive an immediate response to a request for comment from Doe.

-ABC News’ Arthur Jones II