President Donald Trump's administration has taken significant steps to end affirmative action in federal contracting and dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government. This move follows an executive order signed by Trump aimed at eliminating what he perceives as discriminatory practices and promoting strictly merit-based hiring.
The executive order revokes previous orders related to affirmative action and curtails DEI programs for federal contractors and grant recipients. Federal agencies have been directed to place DEI office staff on paid leave, remove public DEI-focused webpages, cancel related training, and develop plans to lay off DEI workers.
The administration's actions are part of a broader effort to upend DEI initiatives nationwide, including investigating private companies for discriminatory practices. Trump's order also targets federal spending programs that allegedly favor racial minorities and women, proposing a review to ensure compliance with the new anti-DEI stance.
The order will impact diversity offices, training, and accountability measures within the federal workforce, which had been a focus of the Biden administration. It will eliminate equity plans, diversity promotion roles, and initiatives such as DEI-related training and diversity goals in performance reviews.
Additionally, the order sets the stage for a review of federal grant and benefits programs to align with the administration's anti-DEI position. While the full extent of the impact remains to be seen, the order represents a significant shift in federal policy towards diversity and inclusion efforts.
It remains unclear how the administration will address initiatives such as pay equity and hiring practices that were established under the previous administration. Some policies, like banning inquiries into salary history to address pay disparities, may face challenges in being rescinded.
Despite the ambitious scope of the executive order, experts caution that implementing such structural changes across federal agencies will be complex and may take time to fully execute.
