Dozens of employees at the U.S. Education Department were put on paid administrative leave in response toPresident Donald Trumps orderbanning diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal government, according to a labor union that represents hundreds of workers in the agency.Its unclear how many workers were put on leave or for what reasons, said Sheria Smith, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 252. The majority of employees placed on leave do not work in DEI initiatives and span all branches of the agency, she said, from an office that sends billions of dollars to K-12 schools to an office that enforces civil rights laws.The shakeup comes as Elon MusksDepartment of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, pushes to cut programs and federal workers at departments across the government, includingthe U.S. Agency for International Development. A DOGE team was working at the Education Department on Monday to implement Trumps executive orders and agenda, said Madison Biedermann, an Education Department spokesperson.The department did not immediately comment on the personnel changes and would not say how many employees were placed on leave.At least 55 Education Department workers received an email Friday saying they were being put on paid leave effective immediately pursuant to Trumps executive order. It wasnt being done for any disciplinary purpose, according to a copy of the email obtained by The Associated Press.Those placed on leave lost access to their government email accounts and were told not to report to the office. They include a range of staff members and managers across the department, which employs more than 4,000 workers in Washington and regional offices across the country.Most of those on leave appear to have taken a voluntary diversity training seminar offered by the department, Smith said. The Diversity Change Agent program has been promoted by the agency for years, including during Trumps first term in office.Graduates of the two-day program were expected to serve as role models and help improve the departments capacity to attract and retain a diverse workforce, according to an internal email from 2019 obtained by the AP.Smith said hundreds of employees have taken the training, but it was unclear if all of them were placed on leave. She said many people were under the impression the training was strongly encouraged or required.It seems unfair to encourage or require people to take a training and then four or five years later place them on administrative leave, Smith said.Some current employees who are on leave said the action could disrupt the agencys core work, including the management of federal student loans and the FAFSA form for student financial aid. The workers spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., a former teacher and member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said Trump is purging employees for taking a training course that his administration encouraged them to take.This wont help our kids learn or even save us money, Murray said on the social media site X. Hes just breaking services people rely on.Trumps order called for all DEI staff in the federal government to be put on paid leave and eventually laid off. Its part ofa broader crackdownon diversity programs that the Republican president says are racist.Trump campaigned ona promise to shut down the Education Department, which he says has been infiltrated by radicals, zealots and Marxists. He said the agencys power should be turned over to states and schools.Collin Binkley, Associated PressThe Associated Presss education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Findthe APs standardsfor working with philanthropies,a listof supporters, and funded coverage areas at AP.org.