What Is President Trump’s Executive Order Terminating DEI?

Contact Us
American flag sky

On January 22, 2025, just two days after being sworn into office, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order that essentially terminates diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) preferencing by federal contractors and subcontractors. Of note, this Order is part of the Trump Administration’s efforts to prevent or minimize federal DEI programs. Understandably so, this may raise doubts and fears in your mind about how this might influence your current employment status and future employment opportunities. Well, please continue reading to learn more about President Trump’s Executive Order to ban DEI and how an experienced employment discrimination attorney in Gloucester County, NJ, at The Vigilante Law Firm, P.C., can work with you to understand your civil and employment rights better.

What should I know about President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order to terminate DEI?

To reiterate, President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order virtually dismantles DEI programs in the federal workforce, along with federal contracting and spending sectors. With this, federal employers should base their hiring, promotions, and performance reviews on factors such as an employee’s initiative, skills, performance, competence, and overall hard work. This is instead of heavily considering DEI-related factors such as the workforce’s DEI goals, policies, mandates, and requirements.

What’s more, this Order effectively revokes Executive Order 11246, which mandated affirmative action for federal contractors. In other words, it bars the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs from pressuring federal contractors into discriminating based on race, sex, gender identity, sexual preference, or religion to essentially “balance” their workforce. Now, this may be considered to be illegal DEI discrimination.

How might this Executive Order affect me and my employment?

As you may likely conclude yourself, President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order mainly impacts employees or prospective employees of federal workforces. So, you may rest a little easier if you currently work for or are actively seeking employment in the private sector. Further, you may still hold the legal right to pursue an employment discrimination claim with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

However, this Order also directs federal agencies to deter DEI programs and DEI-based discrimination in the private sector and universities (i.e., civil compliance investigations). In addition, it mandates the Attorney General and the Secretary of Education to provide joint guidance on measures and practices compliant with the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. Therefore, it may be argued that there are implications for the private sector here, such as potential trends toward discrimination in hiring practices. Unfortunately, this may eventually affect you personally.

If you are ready to learn more about your civil and employment rights, please first retain the services of one of the skilled New Jersey employment lawyers. Our team at The Vigilante Law Firm, P.C. is ready and able to take on your case.

Our Recent Blogs

What Is President Trump’s Executive Order Terminating DEI?

On January 22, 2025, just two days after being sworn into office, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order that essentially terminates diversity,…

Is it a Crime to Leave the Scene of an Accident?

In the initial moments following your auto accident, your flight or fight response may get activated. Meaning, your first instinct may very realistically be…

How Do I Handle Retaliation After a Discrimination Complaint?

Unfortunately, the supervisor you work under may have acted discriminatory toward you, or you observed such behavior toward your coworker. In either event, you…

Website built and managed by Accel Marketing Solutions, Inc