The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has canceled its BOOST internship program, following new directives from President Donald Trump's administration aimed at curtailing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies.
The FTA officially communicated the program's cancellation just days after President Trump issued Executive Orders that seek to eliminate DEI efforts and halt federal hiring, as the Daily Caller reports.
The internship program, initially known as “Diversity in Federal Transit,” underwent a name change to “BOOST” in late 2024, post Trump's reelection. At its core, the initiative was designed to promote participation among students from communities that are typically underrepresented in government roles. While it didn't mandate applicants to belong to such groups, outreach efforts strongly suggested their involvement.
The news regarding the program's abrupt halt reached applicants through an email from the Washington Center on Jan. 27. However, an automatic email reply revealed that the program had officially concluded a few days earlier, on Jan. 23.
The FTA had previously encouraged students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, to explore the opportunity. A February 2024 post on its Instagram account highlighted the program's implicit goals to diversify federal workforce participation.
President Trump’s recent Executive Orders have broadly targeted diversity programs, extending beyond just the FTA. His administration has been active in revising many Biden-era policies that focused on inclusion, racial equity, and gender-related issues in federal agencies.
A statement from the Department of Transportation on Jan. 29, outlined compliance with Trump's directions to remove initiatives perceived as "woke." The "Woke Rescission" Memorandum calls for a comprehensive review and elimination of prior policies related to DEI, among other objectives.
The Washington Center communicated its reasoning for the BOOST program's termination in its note to applicants, linking the decision to new Executive Orders. The swift pivot has raised conversations about long-term impacts on federal employment strategies and the broader implications for institutional diversity.
It is essential to understand these developments in the context of President Biden’s previous focus on expanding access and removing barriers for underserved groups through federal agency directives. Biden's administration had taken deliberate steps to prioritize inclusivity across governmental operations. At present, the removal of DEI initiatives, alongside gender and racial equity resources, underscores President Trump's contrasting stance. This reflects a broader agenda set by his administration to revert changes instituted in the previous presidency.
The removal of diverse recruitment practices such as those embodied by the BOOST program potentially raises questions about the future federal recruitment landscape. The efforts were said to be part of a broader attempt to cultivate a federal workforce reflective of the nation’s diverse demographics.
In doing so, the FTA's initial focus aligned with broader societal shifts urging the recognition of what some say are systemic inequities. Its discontinuation, amid new executive orders, marks a significant pivot away from those goals.
The changes appear to be part of a strategic rollback of policies that the current administration deems partisan. As the implications of these policy shifts emerge, federal agencies are poised for transformation, adjusting to new directives that redefine their operational frameworks. Transitional periods such as this often prompt further examination of policy impacts and the balance between governance philosophies. The recent decision surrounding the BOOST internship program encapsulates a microcosm of the larger ideological shifts playing out within federal governance.
In an evolving governmental landscape, stakeholders are likely to weigh the benefits and repercussions of such policy adjustments while assessing their broader economic and social influences. Amid these changes, the discourse surrounding DEI, inclusivity, and administration priorities remains as pivotal as ever.
