Dia Harris Fired: Former Federal Equity Officer Struggles to Find Work After Trump’s DEI Purge

Dia Harris, 53, became one of the many federal employees affected by President Donald Trump’s administration-wide effort to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. After losing his government position in 2025, Harris has reportedly submitted more than 560 job applications but continues to struggle to find comparable employment.

Harris previously served as the first chief equity officer at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency oversees programs supporting children and families, including Head Start, a program that played an important role in Harris’s own childhood.

According to a report published by The Washington Post on October 29, 2026, Harris was dismissed despite receiving strong performance evaluations. His departure came amid the Trump administration’s efforts to remove DEI-related positions across federal agencies.

Dia Harris Has Submitted More Than 560 Job Applications

Finding another professional position has proved difficult for Harris. On his 368th day without a full-time job, he continued checking his email for responses from employers.

The Washington Post reported that he had applied for 561 positions, including program management opportunities at major companies such as Meta. However, repeated applications have resulted in rejection messages rather than employment offers.

Harris eventually began working at a Harris Teeter grocery store in Maryland, where he earns approximately $16 an hour filling customer grocery orders. He has also been using money from his 401(k) retirement savings to help cover his mortgage payments.

His experience highlights the financial and professional difficulties facing some former federal employees following the elimination of DEI positions.

DEI Watchlist Adds to Former Employees’ Struggles

Harris’s situation also connects to a controversial online project called the DEI Watchlist, created by the American Accountability Foundation in early 2025.

The conservative organization, led by president Tom Jones, published profiles of 93 federal employees. The profiles included photographs, salaries and employment histories of individuals it accused of promoting DEI policies.

A Washington Post investigation found that approximately two-thirds of the employees identified on the list who lost or left their government positions remained unemployed.

Jones expressed satisfaction with the findings in an email to the newspaper, saying his organization was pleased that individuals associated with what it described as anti-white bigotry were struggling to find employment.

The report also described concerns about the treatment of people featured on the list. Some former employees reportedly received unsolicited cash-on-delivery pizza deliveries at their homes, raising concerns about intimidation and personal safety.

Black Federal Workers Face Disproportionate Impact

The broader employment figures highlighted in the report suggest that Black federal employees experienced a particularly significant impact during the government workforce reductions.

According to The Washington Post, the number of Black federal workers declined approximately 30 percent by the end of 2025, compared with a 4 percent decline among employees of other racial groups.

For Harris, losing his government position has meant more than changing careers. It has affected his financial security and the professional work he spent years building.

His story illustrates the continuing debate surrounding the Trump administration’s DEI policies and their consequences for former federal employees.