ALL NPPS Members

[Torre Wenaus <wenaus AT gmail.com>]

Hi all,

A comment on this, NPPS also remains committed to ensuring a workplace where we all treat each other with equal dignity and respect, and to increasing the diversity of our workforce when opportunity arises in merit-based hiring. Same as always.

  Torre

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: BNL Media & Communications Office <pubaf AT bnl.gov>
Date: Wed, Jan 29, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Subject: Update on Executive Orders, New DOE Guidance
To: <broadcast-l AT lists.bnl.gov>

NOTE: The following message is being sent to the Lab community on behalf of Laboratory Director JoAnne Hewett. Note to supervisors: Please share this message with members of your staff who don't have regular access to email.

* * *

Update on Executive Orders, New DOE Guidance

Colleagues,

As a federal contractor, Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) takes direction from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through its contract with BSA. During administration transitions, DOE and its Brookhaven Site Office often provide direction that reflects the new administration's priorities. Our teams are evaluating all executive orders, memoranda, and DOE guidance issued by the new administration since January 20, 2025, to determine if and how they apply to Brookhaven Lab.

We're taking several actions today in response to the January 22, 2025, executive order entitled "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity" that prohibits certain diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) policies in federal contracting. As a federal contractor, BSA must comply with the requirements of this executive order and additional guidance provided by Acting Secretary of Energy Ingrid Kolb last Thursday.

Effective immediately, we are discontinuing our DEIA activities and support structure. This includes:

- Closing the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Office.
- Eliminating the position of chief diversity officer.
- Discontinuing the DEIA council structure (including DEIA Executive Council and DEIA External Advisory Board) and directorate/division DEIA councils.
- Removing DEIA criteria from performance appraisals.
- Ending the requirement for including Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Research plans in any proposal submitted to the Office of Science.
- Informing employee resource groups (ERGs) that they can't continue under their current structure. ERGs may consider reorganizing as clubs under the Brookhaven Employees Recreation Association.

BSA remains committed to ensuring a workplace where we all treat each other with equal dignity and respect. We will continue to engage employees from across the Laboratory on workplace topics of interest or concern and provide opportunities for employees to share input and feedback with Lab leaders.

We will share future updates with you through all-staff email, the Monday Memo, and the intranet home page. In the meantime, please continue your important work to advance the Lab's science and technology mission. Thank you.

- JoAnne Hewett
Laboratory Director

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-- Torre Wenaus, BNL NPPS Group, ATLAS Experiment

-- BNL 510A 1-222 | 631-681-7892