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President Donald Trump has revoked a longstanding executive order banning discrimination by federal contractors and subcontractors, launching a sweeping crackdown on federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The move, part of Trump’s broader agenda to reshape federal policies, has sparked controversy among civil rights advocates and federal employee unions.
The executive order, signed Tuesday, nullifies an order originally implemented by President Lyndon B. Johnson, which prohibited federal contractors from discriminating based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. The order had served as a cornerstone of workplace anti-discrimination efforts for decades.
In a memo Wednesday, the White House justified the change, calling it “the most important federal civil rights measure in decades.” The memo stated that Trump’s order “protects the civil rights of all Americans” by eliminating what it described as “radical DEI preferencing in federal contracting” and combating discrimination in the private sector.
Sweeping Impact on Federal and Private Sector Policies
Trump’s executive order also overturned diversity and inclusion initiatives introduced by Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. The administration argued that such efforts undermined merit-based systems and fostered “intergroup hostility.”
Trump defended the move, stating in the order that DEI programs “violate the text and spirit of our longstanding Federal civil-rights laws” and “undermine our national unity.”
The order directs the U.S. Attorney General to collaborate with federal agencies to develop a report by May, identifying “egregious and discriminatory DEI practitioners” in the private sector. This effort will focus on publicly traded companies, large nonprofits, universities, and foundations, with recommendations for civil rights litigation where necessary.
The White House memo also calls for civil compliance investigations into institutions, including colleges with endowments over $1 billion, describing them as key contributors to DEI practices that allegedly promote bias.
DEI Roles Eliminated in Federal Workforce
In a separate order issued Monday, Trump directed the elimination of DEI programs within the federal government. Federal employees in DEI roles were ordered to be placed on paid leave starting Wednesday, with agencies required to submit dismissal plans by January 31.
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, criticized the move, calling it a “smokescreen” for dismantling an apolitical civil service. “The federal government already hires and promotes exclusively on the basis of merit,” Kelley said, accusing Trump of trying to install loyalists over independent civil servants.
Broader Implications
While Trump’s order primarily targets federal policies, its directives for the private sector have raised concerns about potential overreach and impacts on diversity initiatives. Civil rights advocates warn that dismantling DEI programs could reverse decades of progress in combating workplace discrimination and fostering inclusion.
The White House did not immediately respond to criticism from Kelley or other groups.
As Trump continues to reshape federal policy in his second term, the impact of these changes on workplace diversity and civil rights remains a contentious issue.
