Trump's Initial 100 Days Aim to Dismantle Diversity Policies, Civil Rights Safeguards
America's political landscape has witnessed a significant shake-up under President Donald Trump, particularly in the realm of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Trump's tenure has been characterized by a rollback of decades-old policies designed to address historical injustices, solidifying a divisive stance on these issues.
In his second term, Trump revoked a 1965 executive order mandating equal employment opportunities for all, slashed environmental actions protecting communities of color, and ordered the dismantling of an agency that funded minority and women-owned businesses. Claiming DEI initiatives discriminate against merit, the Trump administration has also canceled government contracts linked to these initiatives and shut down offices addressing civil rights violations.
These actions have sparked concerns among advocates who believe they erase progress made over the years in leveling the playing field for marginalized communities. Hector Sanchez Barba, president of Mi Familia Vota, a Latino voter mobilization organization, deemed the directives as a "white supremacist's agenda."
The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Trump has previously denied accusations of employing racist attacks and an agenda throughout his political career. Senior administration officials have defended the gutting of DEI initiatives, arguing they are discriminatory by nature.
On his first day in office, President Trump signed Executive Order (EO) 14151, which instructed federal agencies to end all DEI mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities deemed illegal within the federal government. This order also eliminated DEI performance requirements for federal employees, contractors, and grantees[1]. EO 14173 revoked several prior executive orders promoting DEI, including Executive Order 11246, which required federal contractors to prevent employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin[1][2].
Education has been a major target of the administration's efforts. The administration threatened to revoke federal funding from schools and universities engaging in DEI practices, though this was blocked by courts. The Department of Education's workforce was slashed in half, and seven of its 12 Office for Civil Rights offices, which investigate complaints ranging from racial harassment to accessibility for students with disabilities, were shuttered[1].
Historians fear these actions are part of a broader effort to suppress honest discussions about U.S. history, particularly issues of race, inequality, and systemic injustice. The Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library, one of the largest LGBTQ+ libraries in the country, faced a 25-40% budget cut after being notified it would no longer receive federal funding[1].
The pushback against DEI has extended to corporate corridors, with many corporations dropping diversity efforts or modifying language in response to Trump's directive. The Minority Business Development Agency, a government agency that helped women- and minority-owned businesses access funding, has lost $68 million in funding and dismissed staff[1]. These actions, critics argue, represent an attempt to erase history, deny history, and remove any evidence of history[1].
The Trump administration's stance on DEI has sparked controversy and legal challenges. court challenges, being contested for vagueness or constitutional concerns regarding free speech and due process. Some were partially or wholly enjoined by courts[1][2]. The administration framed some of these rollbacks as measures to end "illegal" DEI mandates and alleged preferences, emphasizing enforcement of longstanding civil rights laws while opposing what it characterized as "illegal private-sector DEI preferences"[1][2].
In one executive order targeting museums and cultural institutions, Trump accused them of fostering "national shame" and singled out the Smithsonian Institution for promoting "improper ideology." The administration has also removed historical content about African Americans and other minorities from government websites[1]. These actions, historians warn, reframe the past and could impact the understanding of the present.
- Despite concerns from advocates, President Trump revoked a 1965 executive order promoting equal employment opportunities in his second term, marking a significant shift in the realm of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
- The administration's stance on DEI has been extended to the educational sector, with threats to revoke federal funding from schools engaging in DEI practices and the slashing of the Department of Education's workforce by half.
- In a broader effort to suppress honest discussions about U.S. history, the administration has faced criticism for removing historical content about African Americans and other minorities from government websites and accused museums and cultural institutions of promoting "improper ideology."
- The Trump administration's policies towards DEI have sparked controversy and legal challenges, with concerns regarding vagueness, free speech, and due process being raised in court.
- The pushback against DEI has also impacted the corporate sector, with corporations dropping diversity efforts or modifying language in response to Trump's directive, and government agencies such as the Minority Business Development Agency facing funding cuts and staff dismissals.
