Written by Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order late on Tuesday directing government agency heads to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion policies at federal agencies, federal contractors and in the private sector, the White House said.
Here are some key directions from the order:
Undoes past executive actions
The order calls for “an end to unlawful discrimination in the federal government.”
It repeals executive policies dating back to 1965 on equal employment opportunity, environmental measures designed to protect communities of color, and “workforce equalization” efforts by federal contractors based on race, gender and religion.
Civil rights and diversity advocates have argued that such policies are necessary to address long-standing inequalities.
“Encouraging” the private sector to end the DI initiative
In one section, the order encourages the private sector to “end discrimination and unlawful preferences in the field of DEI.” “The heads of all agencies, with the assistance of the Attorney General, must take all appropriate actions in relation to the operations of their agencies to promote the policy of individual initiative, excellence and hard work in the private sector,” he added.
The Attorney General to submit the report
The order requires the U.S. Attorney General to consult with government agencies and submit a report within 120 days “containing recommendations to enforce federal civil rights laws and take other appropriate measures to encourage the private sector to end unlawful discrimination and preferences, including DEI.”
The report will list the “most egregious and discriminatory DEI practitioners” in each sector of concern and outline actions to deter DEI programs or principles that constitute “unlawful discrimination,” the order said.
As part of the plan, each agency will have to identify up to nine “potential civil compliance investigations for public companies, large non-profit corporations or associations, foundations with assets of $500 million or more, state and local bar and medical associations, and education institutions.” Its endowments exceed one billion dollars.
The order does not clarify the regulatory action or potential penalties.
Education report
The order states that within 120 days from Tuesday, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Education will jointly issue guidance to all educational agencies receiving federal funds regarding compliance with a 2023 ruling in which the U.S. Supreme Court rejected affirmative action in college admissions.
