In the past week, president Donald Trump has released two executive order which explicitly aim to put an end to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs with aggressive methods of enforcement. One passed on Monday was aimed at abolishing DEI programs within the federal beauracracy, putting all federal DEI staff on paid leave until they are eventually laid off. Another executive order signed by Trump on Tuesday has far broader implications to private sector DEI programs across the country. The language within the order is incredibly hostile, claiming to be ending “illegal discrimination” and restoring “merit to government service”.
Trump's order ends several monumental legislative moves by past administration to limit bias and discrimination within the federal bureaucracy. The most significant of which was an executive order signed by Lyndon B. Johnson amidst the Civil Rights era which directed federal contractors to end possibly discrminatory policies. With this move Trump also ends popular Clinton legislation which required federal agencies to seek equality in the work environment for low-income and minority groups.
Other concerns within the federal goverment is that the executive orders call upon civil employees to report their coworkers if they suspect them of trying to continue any DEI programs or training under alternative language. This prong of the executive order is likely to pit federal employees against each other, creating an atmosphere of mistrust that is detrimental to cooperative work environments and embodies the exact chaos that Trump brings with him into office.
Many within the private sector have also expressed concerns about the expansion, considering it will affect DEI programs with federal contractors, and within one of his orders Trump directs all federal agencies to identify and investigate publicly-traded companies which have DEI policies and programs. Not to mention, affirmative action is ending in federal contracting -- meaning that the fair and equal selection process for federal contractors is no longer looking like a level playing field. This order will lead to the federal bureaucracy purposefully discriminating against private companies that have DEI programs, which have been expanding across the country in recent years.
Sources:
What is DEI, and why is it dividing America? | CNN
The War on D.E.I. Heats Up | NYTimes
Trump calls DEI programs 'illegal.' He plans to end them in the
federal government | NPR
Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave | AP News
Trump’s orders to end DEI programs reflect his push for a profound cultural shift | AP News
In first days, Trump deals ‘death blow’ to DEI and affirmative action | Washington Post
Explainer: Trump says corporate diversity efforts are illegal - but are they? | Reuters
7 comments:
In any job, especially the more visible ones that get media attention and interact with the public often, like in the federal government, diversity is important because when younger generations see people who are like them/come from similar backgrounds as them in those jobs, they see that they’re capable of achieving these positions. And contrary to what some people believe, DEI programs don’t allow for incompetent people to get a job simply because of their identity, rather they take into consideration someone’s merit AND diverse background that may allow them to offer a different perspective in the workplace. These programs were intended to break down some of the historical barriers that have arisen, decreasing the effects of things like systemic racism, especially in government positions that have historically been predominantly white and male.
In terms of how these executive orders of Trump’s might affect the environment of the federal government, I agree that this could foster a more conservative-leaning culture, especially since racial minority groups are disproportionately left-leaning. And the thing is, I don’t anticipate that Trump is going to eliminate these DEI programs but then rehire “diverse” candidates completely based on merit/“the fair way” in the same volume as fits with the population of our country. So I definitely do see this as a work around to directly influence the bureaucracy to align with his views and I think we will see a shift in the demographic of government jobs that Trump has this control over.
The implementation of these policies is really jarring to see. The policies against the employees of the bureaucracy create a hostile and awful work environment in which finding community is difficult. A lack of diversity in the workplace really is a detriment as a melting pot of ideas from people with different backgrounds and experiences can really be beneficial for a company to have access to. These policies are seemingly benign but they truly have a racist and extremely negative effect which prey on systematic barriers, and implicit bias. The devaluing of diversity in a workplace not only seems foolish but targeting and racist as well. In the bureaucracy where checks and balances are supposed to exist with the constitution reigning supreme, how is it that he is able to sign in these discriminatory and racist policies?
Trump’s recent executive orders against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs are deeply concerning and a major step backward for the country. These actions threaten to undo years of progress made to ensure fair treatment for everyone, especially marginalized groups. By encouraging people to report coworkers who try to continue DEI work, Trump is creating division and distrust in the federal workforce, which harms teamwork and respect for different viewpoints. While his attacks on equality are unsettling, they aren’t surprising coming from a president who has repeatedly shown a lack of support for inclusivity. What’s even more alarming is how these moves could lead to bigger consequences for the future, potentially damaging the idea of equal opportunity for all.
It's disheartening because DEI initiatives don't mandate that people of diverse backgrounds and identities are HIRED---only that they are interviewed, that they are given a FAIR chance. Trying to distort it into targeting or discriminating other groups is simply not true. Shame on Target, for applying this unjust order to its establishment.
The blatant misuse of presidential power and the executive order, not only here but with the attempted ban on birthright citizenship is disheartening. Actions such as these political/ racially charged firings need to be stopped and the culprit, President Donald Trump, need to be held accountable. As we discussed in class the hatch act protects federal employees from political firings yet this exact act is being ignored by the President as he continues to push an alt-right agenda. An agenda that places white people above all others putting minority groups down. I hope that congress and SCOTUS begin to block these actions and hold him accountable otherwise the US may not be very democratic anymore.
It seems so random that nobody can seem to do anything about this. It’s not challenged, it’s not taken to court, he can just disable anything. DEI was a way to rectify past wrongdoings and to enforce the 14th amendment providing equal opportunity for all. There are historically marginalized communities who historically don’t have access to education and job opportunities. And college. I’m curious how this will affect college students and acceptance rates for universities because many of them still preach about how diverse their schools are. Will it be enforced that they can’t admit students because of diversity?
It’s just another way Trump can pack the government to his side whatever way possible, making room for any exceptions he feels like when he and people close to him have benefited from things like DEI and immigration in terms of the economy.
I was pretty shocked when Trump came forward, with no evidence, that the tragic DC crash between a Black Hawk and American Airlines flight was in part, due to DEI initiatives. To use such a tragedy to push his beliefs was pretty insensitive, especially given that evidence shows there is no link between DEI/"non-merit" based hires and the crash. According to the US Census Bureau, 78% of air traffic controllers are male, and 71% of air traffic controllers are non-Hispanic white, two groups not targeted by DEI programs.
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