EndingIllegalDiscriminationandRestoring
DateIssued:January21,2025
Topic:CivilRights
WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?
ThisorderrequirestheDepartmentofLabor’sOfficeofFederalContract ComplianceProgramstoprohibitfederalcontractorsand subcontractorsfrom“promoting‘diversity’”and“engag[ing]in affirmativeactionandworkforcebalancingbasedonrace,color,sex sexualpreference,religion,ornationalorigin.”
TheorderdirectstheDirectoroftheOfficeofManagementandBudget (OMB)andtheAttorneyGeneraltoremovereferencestodiversity,equity, andinclusion(DEI)anddiversity,equity,inclusion,andaccessibility (DEIA)principlesfromfederalacquisition,contracting,grants,and financialassistanceproceduresandterminateallactivitiesand programsthatfeature“diversity,”“equity,”“equitabledecision-making,” “equitabledeploymentoffinancialandtechnicalassistance,” “advancingequity,”andotherrelatedterms.
Theordercompelsallfederalagencyheadstorequiregranteesand contractorstocertifythattheydonot“operateanyprogramspromoting DEIthatviolateanyapplicableFederalanti-discriminationlaws.”
TheorderdirectstheAttorneyGeneralandtheDirectorofOMBtomake recommendationsonappropriatemeasuresto“encouragetheprivate sectortoendillegaldiscriminationandpreferences,includingDEI.”
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
ThisordereliminatesexistingDEIrequirements,programs,andpolicies,in allexecutivedepartmentsandagencies.PresidentTrumpalsoseeksto combatDEIeffortsintheprivatesectorbyrequiringgovernment contractorstocertifythattheydonotuseDEIprinciplesandcompelling corporationstoabidebytheirinterpretationthatfederalcivilrightslaws prohibitDEI.Thisorderrequiresfederalagenciestoterminateaffinity groupsrelatedtoraceandgender,specializedrecruitingeffortsand grantsformarginalizedpeople,andpositionsthatoversawdiversity, equity,inclusion,andaccessibilityefforts.
Toenforcetheorder,theOfficeofPersonnelManagementissuedanotice toallfederaldepartmentheads,threatening“adverseconsequences” unlesstheiremployeesreportincidencesofdiversity,equityandinclusion effortsfromtheiragencieswithintendaysofthenotice.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
Intheshort-term,thisorderhascreatedconfusionforgovernment agenciesandledtotheeliminationofBlackHistoryrecognitionand information.Tocomplywiththisorder,theAirForceremovedan informationalvideoontheTuskegeeairmenfromtheirwebsite,onlyto re-uploaditdayslateroncefurtherguidancewasissued.ThePentagon’s DefenseIntelligenceAgencyhasalsosuspendedeventsrelatedtoBlack HistoryMonth,MartinLutherKingJr.Day,andJuneteenthindefinitely.The StateDepartmentandDepartmentofHomelandSecurityhavearchived ordeactivatedDEIwebpagesandresources,andtheEPAremovedits environmentaljusticemappingandscreeningtool.Outspoken opponentsofthepolicyhavealsofacedswiftconsequences.President TrumpfiredtwoEqualOpportunityCommissioners,includingonethathe appointedduringhisfirstterm,aftertheyissuedastatementsayingthat theEEOCmustenforcefederalanti-discriminationlaws.
Governmentcontractorsareinlimbo,asthereisnotclearguidanceon howagencieswillevaluateDEIeffortsattheexternalcompanies.This ambiguityextendstoallentitiesthatreceivefederalfunds,includingthe healthcareindustry,whichisexplicitlysingledoutintheexecutiveorder. HospitalsthatacceptMedicaidandMedicarearequestioningwhetheror nottheirrecruitmentprogramsviolatethelaw,whichcouldaffectthe qualityofhealthcarefortheforeseeablefuture.Theexecutiveorderhas alsoaffectededucation,asinstitutionswhoreceivefederalfundswere instructedtoterminate“allracepreferencesandstereotypesasafactor intheiradmissions,hiring,promotion,compensation,scholarships,prizes, administrativesupport,sanctions,discipline,andbeyond.”Thisexpands theSupremeCourtrulingthateliminatedaffirmativeactionincollege admissionsandwillimpactK-12studentsandteachers.
Intheprivatesector,theexecutiveorderhasreducedemployment opportunitiesforBlackworkers,whethertheyareentrepreneursorentrylevelemployees.TargetendedtheirRacialEquityActionandChange (REACH)initiative,underwhichtheypledgedtoinvestover$2billionwith Black-ownedbusinessesbytheendof2025.MajorcorporationslikeMeta andDisneyhaverolledbacktheirDEIinitiativesandstoppedtheirpipeline programsusedtorecruitdiversetalent,reducingtheopportunitiesfor peopleofcolorandfiringtheemployeeswhoworktomaketheir companymoreinclusive.
HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?
OveradozenmembersoftheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)have spokenoutagainstthisorder,emphasizingtheimportanceofdiversity, equityandinclusionincreatingopportunitiesforBlackAmericansand raisingconcernsaboutthethreatofdiscriminationanderasureofBlack historyasaresultofthispolicy.SelectstatementsfromindividualCBC Membersarefeaturedbelow.
Rep.YvetteD.Clarke,ChairoftheCBC:“PresidentTrump’scomplete disregardforthecivilrightsprotectionsoftheAmericanpeopleis unacceptableandwillhaveprofoundimpactsonBlackcommunities aroundthecountry.[...]OnceagainPresidentTrumpisbreakingthelaw attheexpenseoftheAmericanpeoplethathepromisedtoprotect,while lookingoutforhisbillionairefriends.CongressionalDemocratsare preparedtofightbecausewewillnotallowthispresidenttotakeour communitiesbackward.”FullStatement
Rep.TerriA.Sewell,ChairoftheCBCFBoardofTrustees:“Weshouldall seetheTrumpAdministration’sattacksonDEIforwhattheyreallyare—an attempttowhitewashourhistoryanddevaluethecontributionsofAfrican Americans.Throughoutthenextfouryears,weasAmericanswillneedto remainespeciallyvigilantagainstattacksonBlackhistory,andaselected officials,weshouldbepreparedtocallthemout.”FullStatement