In a sweeping reversal of policies established by the previous administration, President Donald Trump took immediate action during his first week in office to dismantle all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices across the federal government. On January 20, 2021, just hours after his inauguration, he signed an executive order mandating the elimination of DEI programs, thereby officially recognizing only two genders: male and female. The following day, Trump directed the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to inform heads of federal agencies to begin closing DEI offices and placing their employees on paid leave. This move prompted a rapid removal of all DEI-related media and materials from government platforms, along with the cancellation of contracts associated with DEI initiatives. Trump’s actions were framed as a significant cost-saving measure, with claims of saving $420 million through these cuts, which his administration asserted would help the federal government operate more efficiently.
In tandem with dismantling DEI offices, Trump signed several executive actions aimed directly at terminating race- and sex-based preferences in workplace and educational settings. He expressed a commitment to ending discriminatory practices that he claimed undermined the meritocratic principles of the federal workforce. An accompanying memo detailed directives for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to cease DEI hiring programs and revert to a focus on merit-based employment practices. The memo emphasized that all hiring should prioritize individual capability and job excellence, critiquing DEI initiatives as harmful to safety and efficiency. By reversing Biden’s previous policy on diversity initiatives, Trump aimed to eradicate any preferential treatment that could potentially compromise the integrity of federal operations, especially in critical sectors.
Moreover, Trump’s administration commenced a broader overhaul of DEI policies across public and private sectors. Institutions and corporations that had previously integrated DEI initiatives began to withdraw from them in rapid succession. High-profile companies like Meta and McDonald’s canceled their DEI programs almost immediately following Trump’s executive orders, thereby aligning themselves with the administration’s new direction. This trend continued well into the following years, as numerous major corporations—including Walmart, Ford, and Bank of America—followed suit, reflecting a pronounced shift in corporate America toward anti-DEI sentiments in response to the political climate fostered by Trump’s policies.
The effects of this shift extended to educational institutions as well. The Department of Education issued warnings to state departments about the repercussions of maintaining DEI policies, emphasizing the potential loss of federal funding. Trump’s directive sought to eliminate what he characterized as “illegal and discriminatory treatment” in K-12 education, signaling an aggressive stance against the modern approaches to diversity and inclusion. The administration’s commitment to dismantling DEI principles was reinforced by an extensive review of federal contracts and funding, aimed at eradicating any ties to grants that promoted DEI agendas in education and training, further tightening federal control over educational standards and practices.
Notably, Trump’s administration targeted scientific institutions, rescinding the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Scientific Integrity Policy that had been enacted under Biden. The Biden-era policy had emphasized the importance of DEI in scientific research, prioritizing support for diverse populations within the scientific community. The Trump administration’s stance was framed as a return to “the golden standard” of science, criticizing previous policies as political tools that muddled scientific inquiry with social agendas. The cancellation of related federal grants, including one aimed at “queering the curriculum” for medical professionals, signified the administration’s assertion that DEI should not inform research or policy within the health sector.
In addition to significant policy changes, the Trump administration actively pursued the cancellation of federal contracts with companies that demonstrated DEI support. Various federal agencies, including the Departments of Treasury, Interior, and Veterans Affairs, chose to sever ties with LinkedIn due to its endorsement of DEI practices, framing these cuts as a strategy to realign government spending with the ideological stance of the current administration. Officials asserted that DEI-related contracts had been a waste of taxpayers’ money and were misaligned with public sentiment. Trump’s broader campaign against DEI governance and practices aimed not only at reshaping federal policy but also at reshaping the national dialogue surrounding diversity and inclusion in America. As various federal and private entities adopted similar stances, the initiative marked a significant cultural and political shift in how diversity initiatives were perceived and implemented across the nation.
