The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Justice, has come under fire for allegedly altering the job title of its former diversity officer.
This move is seen as a direct defiance of President Donald Trump's directive to place all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) employees on paid leave.
According to Fox News, Republican Missouri Representative Eric Burlison voiced his criticism on social media, stating, "The ATF defied @realDonaldTrumps order to place DEI workers on leave, instead giving their DEI officer a new title. They attack citizens rights, ignore leadership, and act as though theyre above the law. Enough is enough. Time to abolish the ATF!"
The ATF's former chief diversity officer, Lisa T. Boykin, has had her title changed on the ATFs website to "senior executive." An archived version of the ATFs website shows Boykin was listed as the chief diversity officer as recently as Tuesday Trumps second day in the Oval Office.
Trump has been vocal in his opposition to DEI programs and offices at the federal level and in the education system throughout his campaign. Upon assuming office, he signed an executive order terminating "illegal DEI and 'diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility' (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear."
In response to Trump's executive order, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) directed agency and department leaders to begin the process of shutting down DEI offices and placing DEI employees on paid leave. The OPM directive, obtained by Fox News Digital, instructed, "Send a notification to all employees of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) offices that they are being placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately as the agency takes steps to close/end all DEIA initiatives, offices and programs."
Boykin's biography from 2023 reveals that she began working in ATFs Human Resources Operations Division in 2016 and assumed the role of the Bureaus Chief Diversity Officer in 2021. Her bio states, "With the Bureaus continued focus on enhancing DEIA, Mrs. Boykin currently assumes the work of the CDO in a fulltime capacity, leading and implementing departmental programs and mandates, while bringing renewed vision and effective strategies to maintain an informed DEIA culture for the Bureau."
When questioned about the title change and the ensuing criticism on social media, an ATF spokesman stated that the agency has adhered to DEI directives from the Trump administration. "ATF began implementing OPMs Initial Guidance on DEIA immediately after its issuance on January 21, 2025, in response to the Presidents Executive Orders. We have proactively taken the necessary steps to ensure compliance with this guidance, including by placing impacted personnel on administrative leave," the spokesman told Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital sought clarification on whether Boykin's new title shields her from administrative leave but did not receive an immediate response. Attempts to reach Boykin via her ATF email were met with an automatic response stating her unavailability.
Critics of the Biden administrations diversity initiatives have taken to social media to express their disapproval of the ATF employees title change, accusing the agency of "circumventing" the Trump administration's orders.
Biden had previously championed diversity initiatives under his administration, reversing the first Trump administration's policies that banned diversity training in government agencies during his first week in office in 2021. He stated, "In the weeks ahead, I will be reaffirming the federal governments commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and accessibility, building on the work we started in the Obama-Biden administration. Thats why Im rescinding the previous administrations harmful ban on diversity and sensitivity training. Unity and healing must begin with understanding and truth, not ignorance and lies."
The ATF's alleged defiance of Trump's directive and the subsequent criticism it has garnered underscore the ongoing tension between the conservative and liberal perspectives on diversity initiatives within federal agencies. The question remains whether the ATF's actions will be deemed as a legitimate maneuver or a blatant disregard for the President's executive order.
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