DateIssued:January20,2025
Topic:CivilRights WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?
ThisorderdirectstheAssistanttothePresidentforDomesticPolicy,the DirectoroftheOfficeofManagementandBudget(OMB),theDirectorof theOfficeofPersonnelManagement(OPM),andtheAdministratorofthe DepartmentofGovernmentEfficiency(DOGE)tocreateaFederalHiring Plantailoredto“highlyskilledAmericansdedicatedtothefurtheranceof Americanideals,values,andinterests”withinthefirstsixmonthsofthe TrumpAdministration.
Theorderoutlinesseveralobjectivesthatshouldbefeaturedinthe FederalHiringPlan,including: Eliminationofdiversity,equityandinclusion(DEI)considerations. LoyaltytotheUnitedStatesandPresidentTrump. Reductionoftheaveragetimetohireforthefederalgovernmentto under80days,andincreasedcommunicationaboutapplication status,timelines,andfeedbackforprospectivefederalworkers. Integrationof“moderntechnology,”includingartificialintelligencein therecruitmentandselectionprocess.
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
ThisorderestablishesaFederalHiringPlantobeimplementedbyall federalagencies,departments,andcommissions.
PresidentTrumpinstructedtheauthorsoftheplantooverturnDEI recruitmenteffortsinthefederalgovernmentandrequirefederalworkers innonpartisandepartmentsto“faithfullyservetheExecutiveBranch.”
TheorderisbeingenforcedbytheDirectorofOPM,whowastaskedwith developing“clearperformancemetricstoevaluatethesuccessofthese reforms,”andwasdirectedtorequestdatafromtheagenciesregularly.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
PresidentTrumpciteda“commitmenttoillegalracialdiscrimination undertheguiseof‘equity’”asaproblemwiththefederalworkforceanda barriertothefederalgovernment’sefficiency.Inreality,thefederal governmentimplementedDEIeffortstoincreasethecaliberofthe federalworkforceandremainincompetitionwiththeprivatesectorfor toptalentfrompeopleofallbackgrounds.
BlackAmericansfirststartedworkinginthefederalgovernmentduring theCivilWarandservedalongsidewhitefederalemployees.In1913, WoodrowWilsonsegregatedthefederalworkforce,firingseveralBlack employeesinleadershippositionsandclosingapipelineofreliable employmentandeconomicadvancementforBlackAmericans.This unofficialpolicypersistedfordecades.In1948,PresidentHarryTruman signedanexecutiveordertointegratetheUnitedStatesArmedForces, thoughtheUSmilitaryhadactiveall-BlackunitsuntilSeptember1954. Thecatalystfordiversityinthefederalworkforcecameinthe1960s,with SecretaryofDefenseRobertMcNamaraencouragingmilitary commanderstocombatdiscriminationusingtheirfinancialresourcesin 1963,andtheCivilRightsActof1964prohibitingrace-based discriminationinanyaspectofemployment.Thisordermarksthefirst timein60yearswheretherearenointentionaleffortstoaddressracism inthefederalgovernment,whichwillhaveasignificantimpactonBlack Americans.
HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?
TheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)hasdemonstratedacommitmentto fairemploymentpracticesandtheneedforeconomicopportunitiestouplift theBlackcommunity.
Rep.TroyA.Carter,Sr.,1stViceChairoftheCBC:“Union-busting,contract violations,andpoliticalpurgesdon’tjustharmfederalworkers—they harmeveryAmericanwhodependsongovernmentservices.Gutting agenciesmeansdelayedSocialSecuritypayments,fewerresourcesfor veterans,andweakerlawenforcement.Wecannotallowthisblatant powergrabtoweakentheinstitutionsthatserveusall.”FullStatement
