Trump Administration Overturns Biden's DEI Initiatives in Sweeping Executive Actions

In a decisive move, President Donald Trump has dismantled all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs established by the previous Biden administration.

Upon taking office, President Trump immediately signed an executive order to eliminate DEI offices across the federal government, signaling a significant policy shift. This action, taken just hours after his inauguration, was followed by directives to the Office of Personnel Management to close these offices and place their employees on paid leave. The move not only affected federal agencies but also had ripple effects across the private sector, with major corporations like Meta, McDonald’s, and Walmart among others, following suit by canceling their own DEI programs.

Trump’s administration also targeted specific DEI policies, such as rescinding Biden’s ‘Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government’ order and canceling contracts and grants related to DEI, including a notable grant aimed at ‘queering the curriculum’ for family medicine doctors. Additionally, the Department of Education warned states of potential loss of federal funding if DEI policies were not removed from schools.

The administration’s efforts extended to the Federal Aviation Administration, where Trump mandated a return to merit-based hiring, emphasizing safety and efficiency over DEI considerations. This shift was underscored by a memo criticizing DEI hiring practices as harmful to all Americans, advocating for a focus on individual capability and job excellence.

These actions reflect a broader policy direction under Trump, aiming to eliminate what his administration views as discriminatory practices under the guise of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The impact of these changes has been felt widely, prompting discussions on the future of DEI policies in both public and private sectors.