ATF Retitles Chief Diversity Officer Amidst Trump’s DEI Rollback

The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has retitled its chief diversity officer position as “senior executive.”

This change follows President Donald Trump’s efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the federal government. Lisa T. Boykin, the former chief diversity officer, retains her position within ATF leadership.

Online commentators suggest this retitling is an attempt to circumvent Trump’s policies. The Daily Mail criticized the ATF for employing what it termed “sneaky tactics.”

Boykin joined the ATF in 2002, progressing through roles including employee and labor relations specialist, and heading the Human Resources Operations Division and Workforce Wellness Services Division. She assumed the chief diversity officer role in 2021.

The ATF stated her appointment supported President Biden’s executive order promoting DEI within the federal workforce. Her responsibilities involved integrating DEI practices into ATF operations, aiming to improve recruitment, hiring, retention, and promotion.

A White House memo detailed Trump’s DEI purge, instructing federal agencies to place diversity officers on administrative leave and to plan for staff reductions in related offices. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt publicly released this memo.

Eliminating DEI initiatives is part of Trump’s broader plan to reverse what he considers Biden’s “divisive and wasteful” policies. Trump stated to Sean Hannity that his electoral victory reflected public rejection of “radical left” policies.