The Trump administration has issued three executive orders seeking to dismantle the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion across the federal government—and to intimidate private companies and grantees into retreating from this work. These are radical, unprecedented moves aimed at upending America’s commitment to opening doors to opportunity for all.
Last month, for example, the administration rescinded the landmark Executive Order 11246, which for nearly 60 years—across five Republican administrations as well as Democratic administrations—required federal contractors to take proactive action to ensure nondiscrimination. The White House is waging an intentional campaign of fear and intimidation against private companies and federally funded schools, nonprofits, and local governments, using vague language and threats of investigations in the hope that organizations will back away from their existing programs and commitments. Some state attorneys general have jumped on the bullying bandwagon.
