President Donald Trump made a sweeping move against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by issuing executive orders aimed at eliminating racialized policies within the federal government and other American institutions.

Specifically, Trump signed an order revoking a 1965 executive order by President Lyndon B. Johnson, which established race-based hiring requirements, known as affirmative action, for federal contractors. This action was accompanied by a directive from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that placed DEI personnel on leave and shut down DEI-related programs and offices.

“President Trump campaigned on removing DEI from the federal government and restoring a merit-based system where individuals are hired based on their skills rather than their race or background,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated. “This is another win for Americans of all races, religions, and creeds. Promises made, promises kept.”

On his first day back in office, Trump signed executive orders mandating all federal agencies terminate DEI initiatives and reevaluate employment practices to identify and remove DEI-related policies. He also repealed the Biden administration’s equity-focused executive orders, which aimed to promote diversity and support historically marginalized groups within the federal workforce.

In addition to rescinding affirmative action policies for federal contractors, Trump’s order declares DEI initiatives illegal, advising private companies and federally funded universities to end practices considered discriminatory under this new definition, which includes DEI programming.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also came under scrutiny. Trump directed the Secretary of Transportation and the FAA administrator to eliminate DEI hiring protocols and return to a merit-based approach. This includes revoking any DEI-related programs within the agency.

Even before Trump’s return to office, some corporations began scaling back their DEI initiatives. Companies such as John Deere, Tractor Supply, Ford, and Lowe’s reduced their DEI efforts in late 2023. More recently, businesses like McDonald’s and Meta followed suit, withdrawing DEI programs ahead of Trump’s inauguration, notes National Review.