Bethany Lee
The Trump administration has issued orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, deeming them “dangerous, demeaning, and immoral.”
In his first week in office, Donald Trump signed two DEI-related executive orders. One calls for an end to federal DEI programmes and the other for reforms to hiring practices.
On the 21st January, Trump sent an order to put all DEI employees on “immediate” paid leave by the following day. Meanwhile, officials warned federal agencies to prepare to lay off staff.
The administration also cancelled all DEIA-related training while removing pages on diversity and accessibility from federal websites and social media.
By the 22nd, thousands of employees were emailed with a further order to “report all facts and circumstances”, including efforts to “disguise” diversity initiatives within 10 days.
The actions deliver on Trump’s promise in the run-up to the election to undo the Biden administration’s DEI measures, which he called “illegal and immoral discrimination programs.”
WHAT IS DEI?
DEI stands for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. People sometimes refer to it as DEIA to include accessibility.
Altogether, DEIA measures aim to support people from underrepresented groups, increase diversity in the workforce and educate employees on discrimination and inclusivity.
WHAT DO TRUMP’S DEI ORDERS ENTAIL?
The first order, ‘Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,’ targets equity plans and any offices or roles which exist to promote diversity.
Trump claimed DEI policies “deny, discredit and undermine the traditional American values of hard work excellence, and individual achievement in favor of an unlawful, corrosive, and pernicious identity-based spoils system.”
Instead, he calls for a return to merit-based hiring, stopping agencies from employing individuals based on their race, sex, or religion.
“The workplace will be less safe now”
The second order, ‘Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,’ further targets federal hiring.
As a result, the order gives the Attorney General 120 days to submit a report. The report will contain recommendations on how to deter DEI practitioners and “end” DEI in the private sector.
The orders consequently reverse measures introduced under the Biden administration. This includes a mandate for federal agencies to embed DEI in their workforces and develop an annual diversity progress report.
In 2022, the government released their first report, revealing that around 60 per cent of personnel in the federal workforce were white, and 55 per cent were male.
SPLIT RESPONSES
Several US companies have already announced plans to scale back DEI programmes, including McDonalds, Walmart and Meta.
Meta released a memo to its staff stating it would be reducing its DEI efforts because of the changing legal and policy landscape.
Other companies have defended their current DEI programmes, including Apple and Costco.
“Identity politics have played into how we function”
Many within the DEI sector have passionately criticised the news.
Leigh Adams, CEO of social mobility charity The Talent Tap, told Empoword: “We can but hope that this ludicrous and divisive attempt to disrupt years of work to embed equity at the heart of American industry will be challenged and overturned.”
“This is a blatant attack on those from marginalised backgrounds and it must be rebuffed strongly.”
Samantha Hornsby, Co-Founder of Eric, a creative careers app, told Empoword: “It’s shocking to see this is happening. The workplace will be less safe now for those who need extra protection.”
“It’s terrifying to know that this is likely the beginning of a four-year campaign that will actively make efforts to return to pre-equality policies.”
Three new executive orders by Trump targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies aim to undo hard-won anti-discrimination efforts in the US.
"It’s a vicious political move," says @astroehlein in today's Daily Brief: pic.twitter.com/bAI0Nx5KOF
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) February 3, 2025
In the White House, employees are reportedly feeling the pressure.
A member of the Department of Health and Human Services told the BBC: “We’re really freaked out and overwhelmed.”
“Identity politics have played into how we function normally, and that’s not beneficial to the workforce.”
“But that doesn’t mean I want my colleagues to get fired,” he added.
Others, such as the President of the Asian American Coalition for Education, have praised Trump’s decisions.
Yukong Mike Zhao said in a statement: “President Trump’s executive orders […] banning DEI programs are a major milestone in American civil rights progress and a critical step towards building a colour-blind society.”
WHAT IS THE UK’S STANCE ON DEI?
Currently, in the UK, private and public sectors must comply with equality laws.
Labour have spoken about their intentions to strengthen DEI protections, such as introducing mandatory reports on ethnicity pay gaps.
However, some experts caution that Trump’s orders will have knock-on effects in the UK, particularly if American corporations are affected.
Hornsby told Empoword: “The battle for equality in the workplace is about to get much harder.”
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Feature image courtesy of Trump White House Archived on Flickr. Image license can be found here. No changes have been made to this image.
Bethany Lee
Bethany is a multimedia journalist with a MA in Journalism. She is currently a Cultural Affairs Editor at Empoword!