Newsman : President Donald Trump signed executive order that aims to end diversity, equity and inclusion policies in the federal government and affirmative action in federal contracting. The message to corporate America: Follow the federal government’s lead and “end illegal DEI discrimination” or face civil rights investigations.
It bars the government from pushing contractors to diversify their workforce and taps federal agencies to use Civil Rights-era laws “to combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs and activities.”
Trump’s DEI policies “undermine our national unity, as they 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,” the order said.
While the federal government does not have a direct say over the private sector’s diversity practices, it has wide purview over companies that depend on federal funding or hold government contracts.
Trump’s executive order fulfills his campaign pledge to “terminate” DEI and reverse Joe Biden’s “woke takeover” of America – goals championed by his close allies and cheered by crowds at his rallies.
In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed an executive order holding federal contractors to a higher standard than other employers in ensuring that women and people of color have equal opportunities in hiring, training and promotions.
Vice President JD Vance who, as an Ohio senator, introduced legislation that would prohibit government contractors from using federal funds for DEI initiatives to Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy, Stephen Miller, who filed dozens of legal actions against “woke” corporations.
