Trump Administration Orders Termination of Federal DEI Programmes
The Trump administration has issued a directive to terminate all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes, requiring government staff in these roles to be placed on immediate paid administrative leave. The order denounces DEI and DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility) policies as contradictory to U.S. civil rights laws, asserting they promote discriminatory practices. It also calls for federal agencies to shift hiring and promotion criteria toward individual merit rather than DEI considerations.
Federal agencies have been instructed to compile lists of DEI offices and staff by Thursday and submit detailed plans for implementing layoffs by January 31. In addition, DEI-related public websites are to be removed immediately. The executive order also directs the Attorney General to develop recommendations for encouraging private sector entities to follow suit in ending diversity efforts.
Significantly, the order revokes a landmark executive order from the civil rights era, originally signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This revoked order had required federal contractors to ensure equal employment opportunities and prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
Critics warn the elimination of the programmes could undermine federal diversity standards, potentially allowing companies with discriminatory hiring practices to obtain federal contracts without compliance requirements. Additionally, concerns have been raised that removing DEI initiatives could weaken workplace training designed to address and prevent discrimination. The executive order is part of a broader series of actions targeting DEI programs, including a related order issued earlier in the week mandating the termination of all DEI offices and positions within 60 days. While some corporations like McDonald’s and Walmart have scaled back their DEI initiatives in recent weeks, others, such as Apple and Target, continue to defend these programmes.
