President Donald Trump promised he would put an end to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies in his pre-inauguration rally last Sunday.
“We’re going to stop the destructive and divisive diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates all across the government and private sector and return our country to the merit system,” Trump said.
Trump then signed an executive order Monday that will take measures to eliminate DEI policies.
“Americans deserve a government committed to serving every person with equal dignity and respect, and to expending precious taxpayer resources only on making America great,” the order, titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” read.
Under the Monday order, all DEI offices and organizations will be shut down within 60 days and all DEI staff will be placed on immediate paid administrative leave.
Trump followed it up with a Tuesday executive order which focuses on “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.”
“The Biden Administration forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI), into virtually all aspects of the Federal Government, in areas ranging from airline safety to the military,” the order stated.
The Tuesday executive order terminates DEI policies on the federal level and provides provisions that encourage the private sector to phase out DEI.
According to the order, the Attorney General will consult with the heads of relevant sectors within 120 days to determine which organizations are practicing illegal discrimination policies and determine future steps to deter such practices.
While the order may not be an immediate end to DEI, it is a step in the right direction. Private companies and organizations can still practice DEI-like policies, as they are not controlled by the government, but it will be more difficult for them to use it as an excuse.
If a company were to practice discrimination, they would likely have to show at least some ways in which their chosen candidate is qualified, rather than merely filling a quota. DEI may also still have an effect on college admissions, but schools will need to be much more careful about how they carry out their selection process, as they will not be allowed to openly admit to picking students based on race.
In the private sector, it is less likely that the Trump administration will need to deter companies from enacting DEI policies.
Most companies want to hire the candidate they think is best for the job, regardless of other factors. If companies are no longer required by law to fill a quota, they will begin hiring those who will make the company run the best.
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While some organizations may occasionally wish to virtue-signal and make a hire based on diversity factors rather than qualifications, especially in corporate settings, the effect of DEI will be less than it was before the executive order.
Although it will be nearly impossible to completely eliminate DEI, Trump’s executive orders are a step in the right direction.