A photo from the FBI’s training academy in Quantico, Virginia, has gone viral as a grave symbol of the Trump administration’s push to strip diversity, equity, and inclusion values from all facets of the federal government. The image, which has racked up millions of views on social media, shows a man painting solid gray over a colorful mural that highlighted the agency’s core values, such as “diversity,”“fairness,” “compassion,” and “integrity.” The photo was obtained by The New York Times and posted to X by pastor Zach W. Lambert. “If a picture is usually worth a thousand words, this one is worth millions,” he wrote in the caption. Attorney and political commentator Tristan Snell remarked that it showed the Trump administration “literally graywashing the values out of America.“ On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order ”ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs.” The FBI toldThe Washington Post that it was removing all visual materials promoting DEI to be in accord with the administration’s new policies. “While diversity is no longer an organizational core value for our employees, the FBI continues its work to serve and protect all Americans,” it said.
This photograph was taken two days ago at the FBI Academy in Quantico and submitted to the NYT under the condition of anonymity.
