Department of Veterans Affairs places 60 DEI employees on leave with salaries totaling more than $8M | 27 Jan 2025 | The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has placed nearly 60 employees on leave who focused on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and had a combined salary of more than $8 million. The VA said in a press release Monday that it completed its implementation of President Donald Trump’s executive order to end DEI in the federal government. Part of the VA's abolishment of DEI within the agency meant placing on paid administrative leave about 60 employees who were solely focused on DEI activities. The VA said the combined salary of the employees -- including base pay, locality pay and additional earnings -- exceeds $8 million, with the average pay being about $136,000 per year, per employee.