Trump Ends Federal Diversity Programs, Targets DEI in Bold Executive Order
In a bold move just two days into his presidency, Donald Trump has issued an executive order targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the federal government, private sector, and nonprofit organizations.
Trump’s order revokes a 1965 policy from President Lyndon B. Johnson that established affirmative action requirements for federal contractors. It also places all employees in federal DEI offices on paid administrative leave, effectively halting government efforts to foster diversity.
Trump’s acting chief of the Office of Personnel Management underscored the urgency of the change, mandating compliance by Wednesday evening (Jan 22).
Beyond the federal level, the order directs the Department of Justice to identify what it calls “egregious and discriminatory DEI practitioners.”
Corporations, nonprofits with assets over $500 million, and universities with billion-dollar endowments are explicitly targeted for scrutiny. The directive warns these institutions that their DEI initiatives could be deemed illegal and subject to investigation.
The Trump administration’s legal argument hinges on claims that DEI and affirmative action often violate civil rights laws by allegedly discriminating against white men, Asian Americans, and others not benefiting from such programs.
The order states, “Individual merit, aptitude, hard work, and determination” should be the sole criteria for opportunity, leaving DEI supporters concerned about the loss of protections for underrepresented groups.
Reactions have been mixed with progressive institutions expected to challenge the order in court, citing potential violations of free speech and association rights.
Professor Irvin Weathersby Jr., who recently published, In Open Contempt: Confronting White Supremacy in Art and Public Space, addressed the issue during an interview on LinkedIn's “Hello Monday” podcast, stating, “If we do that, it’s really a fool’s errand to think that we’re going to arrive somewhere better.”
Weathersby added, “It’s a failure in humanity in the sense that what we are going to do if we decide to silo ourselves and say that we are this homogeneous kind of culture or country or populace is we’re going to lose the evolutionary process of humanity.”
With a conservative-leaning Supreme Court, the legal landscape remains uncertain. For now, Trump’s directive marks a seismic cultural and legal shift, signaling a rollback of policies once viewed as pillars of civil rights.
