President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs within the federal government. “We will forge a society that is colorblind and merit-based,” Mr. Trump said in his inauguration speech on Monday.
The order would cut funding for so-called DEI initiatives across all agencies in order to “end DEI inside the federal government,” according to incoming Trump administration officials.
Mr. Trump said he will direct the Office of Management and Budget to end all related mandates, policies and programs across agencies, including all initiatives that aim to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within departments. His aim is to restore what the administration considers to be a merit-based hiring system, according to officials.
Mr. Trump’s effort to eradicate all traces of DEI within the government will be an ongoing effort.
Trump officials and members of the Department of Justice will meet with different agencies monthly to evaluate how ongoing DEI programs are allegedly discriminating against Americans. The groups will “figure out ways to end those,” Trump officials said.
This executive order will also include a review of spaces that have been renamed under DEI initiatives. It’s unclear how the order will affect the private sector. A Trump administration official advised businesses to “wait and see” how further guidance will pertain to them.
Trump: “There are only two genders: male and female”
Incoming White House officials doubled down on Mr. Trump’s distaste for inclusion efforts by proclaiming that there are only two sexes that the federal government will recognize: male and female.
“As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the united states government that there are only two genders: male and female,” Mr. Trump said at his inauguration.
“So what we’re doing today is defining that it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female. These are sexes that are not changeable, and they are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality,” an incoming Trump official said regarding a distinct executive order. “You are no longer going to have robust and long drop-down menus when asking about sex.”
Among other things, the order will ensure that federal funds will not be used to promote gender inclusivity.
A number of major U.S. employers including Meta, McDonald’s and Walmart have wound down their diversity programs following a 2023 Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action in college admissions, and under pressure from conservative political activists.
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