Anti-discrimination laws have been in place for decades in many American establishments, from school admissions to workplace hiring practices which eventually evolved into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies (DEI). Now with President Donald Trump signing an executive order to end these initiatives, the future of DEI in America is uncertain. What would this mean for students, schools, and society in general?
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed executive order 11246 which required federal offices to hire regardless of religion, race and origin. This order was put into place during the civil rights movement and promoted fairness and representation for historically marginalized groups which signified a shift away from the discrimination and segregation that was widespread at the time. This executive order was the beginning of what would come to be known as DEI policies.
DEI helped to include people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities and provided them with equal opportunities in schools and workplaces.
President Trump’s recent executive order eliminates federal DEI programs, arguing that they promote “racial discrimination”. This order specifically ends DEI training, fires the staff that specifically focus on DEI, and revokes past policies that aimed to increase diversity in federal training.
Trump and his supporters argue that DEI programs create division and “unfair advantages” based on race and gender rather than merit and quality. They believe that government hiring and promotions should be based only on qualifications rather than the desire to meet diversity quotas. While announcing the order, Trump referred to the programs as “un-American” and implied that they promoted racial bias instead of eliminating it.
In the workplace, companies might scale back diversity training and hiring aimed at increasing representation. This would result in less diverse workplaces and fewer opportunities for underrepresented groups.
In schools and universities, the college admissions process might shift away from considering race or socioeconomic backgrounds, which might potentially reduce diversity on campuses. Programs to support marginalized students, such as scholarships or mentoring programs, could also be at risk.
Reactions to Trump’s decision have been firmly divided. Trump’s supporters applaud the move saying it restores fairness in hiring and government decision-making. Some argue that DEI programs have even led to discrimination against white and male applicants and that this order will now level the playing field.
On the other hand, many civil rights activists, democratic politicians and corporations have criticized the move, calling it “a step backwards for equality”. They argue that DEI programs address the historical disadvantages that marginalized groups face and how removing these programs will slow down the progress of inclusion in workplaces. Some universities and private companies have assured that they will continue their DEI efforts despite the shift in the government.
While this order immediately focuses more on federal agencies, the broader implications on private businesses, state governments, and educational institutions remains unclear. Some predict that there will be legal challenges to this decision, arguing that it could violate other anti-discrimination laws. Others believe that this decision could influence similar policies at state and local levels of the government, especially in Republican states.
In general, the removal of these DEI policies could deepen the existing divides in American society. DEI advocates argue that these policies are essential for addressing systemic inequality, while the people against DEI believe that they promote division.
