Donald Trump orients federal governance back to traditional pathways with an executive order dismantling DEI programs.
Key Takeaways
- President Donald Trump issued an executive order to terminate federal DEI programs.
- The order affected 395 federal workers and revoked $420 million in contracts.
- Agencies instructed to shut down DEI offices and report compliance by deadlines.
- The policy shift revises DEI initiatives introduced under President Biden.
Executive Order Details
President Trump issued an executive order that dismisses all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The order sidelined 395 government employees and nullified contracts totaling $420 million. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, took charge of implementing these cancellations. Federal agencies were instructed to close DEI offices, place employees on paid leave, and dismantle digital DEI platforms.
The Office of Personnel Management requires agencies to inform employees about the DEI closure and to report attempts to disguise DEI initiatives using vague language. By designated deadlines, agencies are to submit details of DEI offices, employees, contracts, and plans for reducing DEI staff numbers, signaling a return to what Trump describes as “merit-based” hiring practices.
Policy Implications and Actions
In addition to ending DEI programs, the executive order rescinds a prior order by President Joe Biden that championed diversity and racial equity within the federal landscape. The Trump administration plans further to reverse these DEI efforts by targeting workplace and education discrimination practices, promising an investigation into private companies’ DEI programs suspected of discriminating against non-minority groups.
The administration also aims to put an end to affirmative action in federal contracting and to review the government spending in alignment with the new anti-DEI directive. Lawsuits against programs intended for underserved communities might also be settled under this new regime.
Challenges and Reactions
Implementing this order poses complexities due to the entrenched nature of these policies. Trump’s order could affect pay equity laws, such as banning inquiries about salary history, previously initiated by Biden’s administration. Some DEI initiatives, like those that create employment avenues for individuals with criminal records, enjoy bipartisan support and might face less impact.
This executive action marks one of several initial orders from Trump’s administration including the recognition of only two genders and the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, asserting a renewed approach in federal governance.
Sources
1. Trump’s federal DEI purge puts hundreds on leave, nixes $420M in contracts
2. Trump administration moves to begin cutting all federal DEI staff
