Federal Appeals Court Orders Reinstatement of 19 CIA and ODNI Officers Fired After Diversity Assignments Ruling Due Process Violated

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 on Thursday that the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence must reinstate 19 career intelligence officers fired over prior diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility assignments, finding the agencies violated their own termination regulations by denying the employees a right to reassignment or appeal 123. The ruling upheld a preliminary injunction from a lower-court judge. The 19 are among 58 CIA and ODNI officers placed on paid administrative leave to implement a DEI-elimination executive order Trump signed shortly after returning to office in January 2025, and they remain on leave pending the case 123. The officers had argued the firings were arbitrary and unsupported by any evidentiary record, and said they should have been reassigned rather than penalized for duties ordered by a prior administration 1. Government attorneys had contended CIA Director John Ratcliffe and acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte held unfettered authority to terminate employees with or without cause 1. Kevin Carroll, counsel for the officers, called on Ratcliffe and Pulte to reinstate the employees. NBC News reported the timing of any rehiring remains unclear amid an expected administration appeal 1.