DALLAS — On January 21, 2025, the White House issued a memorandum on “Keeping Americans Safe in Aviation,” directing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US' foremost aviation safety body, and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to immediately end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in favor of merit-based hiring.

The Trump administration is ordering all federal employees in diversity, equity and inclusion roles placed on paid leave by Wednesday evening, according to a new memo from the Office of Personnel Management.

Federal DEI employees will be placed on paid leave by Wednesday, with agencies ordered to shutter offices, remove online content, and finalize dismissals by January 31.

The Washington, D.C., area is governed by a Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) within a 30-mile radius of Reagan National Airport. Flying unmanned aircraft within the 15-mile inner ring is prohibited without specific FAA authorization, requiring Transportation Security Administration and FAA waivers and special clearance.

President Donald Trump escalated his campaign against diversity programs on Tuesday by pressuring the private sector to join the initiative, ordering aviation officials to review diversity hires and telling government DEI employees they would be placed on paid leave.

A software update from Chinse drone makers DJI removed geofencing restrictions and allows operators to fly in restricted areas like airports. This could cause chaos.

After the oath-taking, inaugural address, luncheon and traditional parade, the new president gets to go into the White House to find the family's clothes, furniture and other personal belongings in place and the kitchen stocked with favorite foods.

He also announced private sector investments of up to $500 million to build artificial intelligence infrastructure. Keep up with the USA TODAY news team for updates:Start the day smarter.

On his first full day in office Tuesday, President Donald Trump continued sweeping actions, including ordering the shuttering of all executive branch diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and ordering all employees working in such offices to be placed on leave.