By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Tuesday ordering the heads of government agencies to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies at federal agencies, federal contractors and in the private sector, the White House said.
Here are some key guidelines from the order:
REVOKE PAST EXECUTIVE ACTIONS
The order calls for “ending unlawful discrimination in the federal government.”
It repeals executive policies dating back to 1965 on equal employment opportunity, environmental actions designed to protect communities of color, and federal contractor “workforce rebalancing” efforts on the basis of race, sex and religion.
Civil rights and diversity advocates argue that such policies are necessary to address long-standing inequities.
THE PRIVATE SECTOR “ENCOURAGES” TO END DEI
In one section, the order encourages the private sector to “end discrimination and unlawful preferences of DEIs.” It adds that “the heads of all agencies, with the assistance of the Attorney General, will take all appropriate measures with respect to the operations of their agencies to promote in the private sector the policy of individual initiative, excellence and hard work.”
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THE REPORT
The order directs the U.S. Attorney General to consult with government agencies and submit a report within 120 days “containing recommendations for enforcing federal civil rights laws and taking other appropriate actions to encourage the private sector to implement ending discrimination and unlawful preferences, including DEI.”
The report would list the “most egregious and discriminatory DEI practitioners” in each area of concern and detail measures to deter DEI programs or principles that constitute “unlawful discrimination,” the order states.
Under the plan, each agency would identify up to nine “potential civil compliance investigations into publicly traded companies, large nonprofit corporations or associations, foundations with assets of $500 million or more , state and local bar and medical associations, and institutions of higher education with endowments in excess of $1 billion.
The order does not specify regulatory actions or potential penalties.
EDUCATION REPORT
The order states that within 120 days from Tuesday, the attorney general and the secretary of education shall jointly provide guidance to all educational agencies that receive federal funds regarding compliance with a 2023 decision in which the United States Supreme Court rejected affirmative action in college admissions.
