The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) has been accused of circumventing President Donald Trump’s executive order mandating the suspension of all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) employees by allegedly changing the job title of its Chief Diversity Officer.

Congressman Eric Burlison brought attention to the matter on social media, alleging the ATF defied Trump’s directive. 

“The ATF defied [Donald Trump’s] order to place DEI workers on leave, instead giving their DEI officer a new title,” Burlison posted on X. “They attack citizens’ rights, ignore leadership, and act as though they’re above the law.”

Burlison shared an image of the ATF’s Chief Diversity Officer, Lisa T. Boykin, noting that her title was updated between January 21 and January 22 to “Senior Executive” on the ATF’s website. A report by Fox News corroborated the claim, confirming that the title change appeared after Trump’s second day in office.

President Trump has made rolling back DEI programs in the federal government a prominent focus of his administration. On his first day in 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.” The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) subsequently issued guidance instructing agencies to shut down DEI offices and place related employees on paid administrative leave.

“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,” the OPM directive stated, as reported by Fox News.

Boykin, who began working with the ATF’s Human Resources Operations Division in 2016, was appointed Chief Diversity Officer in 2021. According to a 2023 biography, her role included “enhancing DEIA” and “bringing renewed vision and effective strategies to maintain an informed DEIA culture for the Bureau.”

An ATF spokesperson addressed the allegations, asserting that the agency complied with the Trump administration’s directives. 

“ATF began implementing OPM’s Initial Guidance on DEIA immediately after its issuance on January 21, 2025, in response to the President’s Executive Orders. We have proactively taken the necessary steps to ensure compliance with this guidance, including by placing impacted personnel on administrative leave,” the spokesperson told Fox News.