Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin President Donald Trump criticized his Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) executive orders on Thursday, suggesting that Americans are now witnessing an “Alabama government” of the United States federal government.
During an appearance on “CNN This Morning,” Woodfin claimed that white women and veterans benefit the most from DEI policies — not just Black Americans and other minority groups.
“What is the message and who are you trying to get across? So it goes beyond frustration and disappointment. It shows you that 47 told us what it was going to do, and it's doing it,” Woodfin said.
Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin notes that Americans are now witnessing the “formation of the state of Alabama” for the federal government. (Fouz McNamee/Greg Nash/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Birmingham's mayor also disagreed with critics who claimed DEI programs had gone too far in some areas.
“Look, we made the words diversity, we made the words equality, like in others, we made those words inclusion, bad words. Inclusion is not a bad thing. There's no such thing as going 'too far' in terms of inclusion,” he said.
“There's no such thing as going too far when it comes to equality. This is America. Equity is the right thing to do. There's no such thing as diversity is bad. America is a very diverse place. I believe diversity, equality, and inclusion are important,” Woodfin continued. “It has been weaponized for some to use to say it has been stolen from others.”
Trump's dismantling of DEI is deeper and bigger than you know
Criticisms of DEI obligations were strengthened after the Supreme Court's positive ruling last year that banned racial preferences in college admissions. (Getty Images)
Trump signed an executive order on Monday requiring Eliminate all DEI programs From the federal government.
Trump issued two other executive actions Tuesday targeting DEI — an executive order to end discrimination in the workplace and higher education through preferences based on race and gender under the guise of DEI and a memo to remove a Biden administration policy that prioritized DEI hiring at the FAA.
Just two days into his term, Trump has caused a stir in Washington, and a new Fox News poll shows that… Voters stand behind him. Nearly a third of voters, 29%, agreed that it was “very important” for Trump to focus on getting DEI out of government. When broken down by party, 44% of Republicans, 16% of Democrats, and 24% of independents want the president to repeal federal DEI initiatives.
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US President Donald Trump signs documents as he issues executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on Inauguration Day in Washington, US, January 20, 2025. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)
It passed Alabama's GOP-controlled legislature Comprehensive legislation In March 2020 to ban state funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs at public colleges and universities, local boards of education and state agencies, this would limit the teaching of “divisive concepts” at public colleges and universities.
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Pointing to his state's laws, Woodfin said Americans have “seen this dance before” regarding DEI restrictions.
“Listen, the unfortunate part of this conversation of divesting DEI — Americans are witnessing the formation of a federal government in Alabama,” he said.
