President Trump's sweeping executive order dismantling decades of diversity and affirmative action practices in the federal government represents a significant setback for racial and social justice. This move not only overturns policies rooted in civil rights-era victories but also signals a broader assault on equity in both public and private sectors.
The order revokes President Lyndon B. Johnson's 1965 executive action, which empowered the Department of Labor to enforce equal opportunity for women and people of color in federal contracting. Johnson's order followed the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, key legislative victories in the fight for racial equality. It required federal contractors to actively combat employment discrimination and take steps toward equity based on race, color, religion, and national origin. Rev. William Barber of Repairers of the Breach emphasized, "Johnson's executive order was essential to addressing discrimination in that era and remains critical today."
Critics argue the new order undermines a crucial enforcement tool that has driven progress for marginalized groups. Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, warned that it "significantly erodes a civil rights enforcement tool that has been essential, in particular, for women's progress." She added, "It sends a message and gives a green light to contractors that nobody is watching."
The order extends beyond federal agencies to the private sector, directing investigations into companies, universities, and foundations over their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.Â
It prioritizes combating so-called "anti-white racism," a framing Rev. Barber described as a dangerous misrepresentation of civil rights laws' intent. Meanwhile, conservative groups, emboldened by Trump allies like Stephen Miller, have mounted legal challenges against corporate DEI initiatives, intensifying the rollback of progress.
This decision comes amid growing corporate retreat from diversity programs, accelerated by political and legal pressures. Civil rights advocates are bracing for the fallout, as Barber states, "We cannot allow this to reverse hard-fought gains for racial and gender equity." The implications for marginalized communities are profound, threatening to dismantle decades of progress in the struggle for equal opportunity and justice.
Link: Axios