Protect Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives

On his first day in office, Trump issued an anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) executive order titled “Ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing”, calling for the termination of all “discriminatory” DEI programs throughout the federal government.

DEI programs originated from the Civil Rights movement, were codified by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and are intended to boost the educational and workforce participation of historically underrepresented populations like women, people of color, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, which in turn benefits not just individuals but the organizations they participate in.

Trump’s Executive Order is intended not just to terminate DEI programs within the federal government, but also to control government contractors and, indirectly, private companies who now fear scrutiny of their internal policies. In fact, a subsequent Executive Order ordered federal agencies to identify up to nine large corporations, nonprofits, or academic institutions engaging in the “illegal” practice of DEI programs.

Over 140 government agencies are now scrambling, putting all business on hold while they try to determine how to comply. For example, the National Science Foundation (NSF) froze all funds for 40,000 research grants to review their language for DEI terms. These challenges will extend across all government agencies, not just reducing research opportunities in these agencies but at universities and other institutions across the world. This ill-conceived Executive Order is already disrupting essential governmental programs, endangering thousands of jobs, and harming the millions of Americans who benefit from federal government services.