Retracting Executive Order 11246
During 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson established Executive Order 11246, banning federal contractors from discriminating based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. It helped to ensure employers that their employees were treated with respect and integrity regardless of their differences.
As of 2025, the Trump administration has called off the policy in its entirety, effectively eliminating requirements for federal contractors to implement affirmative action programs aimed at increasing the representation of marginalized groups. The retraction also removed explicit bans on segregated facilities for government contractors, including breakrooms, public universities, women’s shelters and more. State and federal laws against segregation and discrimination, however, continue to exist and still apply.
Numerous legal experts and civil rights advocates have criticized Trump’s rescission of Executive Order 11246, arguing that it negates the effort many minorities have taken to even enter the workforce and overcome discrimination. They express concern that without the government requirements, federal contractors may lack sufficient incentive to maintain diverse workplaces, potentially leading to more discrimination against underrepresented groups.
Cutting off DEI Offices and Programs in Federal Agencies
The current administration has issued initiatives to dismantle numerous Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offices, including the Diversity and Inclusion Council, which was created in order to encourage inclusivity and equitable practices within the federal workforce. The new executive order “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” mandates such repeals alongside seceding these initiatives, aiming to ultimately make federal operations more efficient and eliminate programs perceived as unnecessary or ideologically driven.
This action led to the removal of DEI-related content from official platforms. For example, the Pentagon purged numerous DEI materials, removing the honors of many Black, Latino and female veterans from Arlington National Cemetery’s website, including significant figures like General Colin Powell and the Navajo Code Talkers.
Critics argue that removing DEI offices and programs in federal agencies showcases an alarming lack of consideration toward promoting inclusivity and equitable practices in the workforce. They believe that these actions may reverse progress made in addressing systemic biases and fostering a diverse work environment. The removal of DEI-related content has also been met with extensive public outcry as many fear that significant contributions by underrepresented groups are being erased from meaningful representation. By doing so, these groups may have their problems forgotten or ignored alongside impacting how individuals may feel about themselves and behave, lacking role models to embody.
Defunded DEI research
Previous federal funding for DEI research has since been cut off. The broader implications of this defunding have raised concerns within academic and research-based communities. Many are concerned with the future of examining and addressing systemic inequities and health disparities.
Defunding DEI research includes terminating equity-related grants and contracts that impact studies and initiatives aimed at preventing disparity in numerous sects. For example, Columbia University alongside other institutions have had their funding severely cut, impacting conducting research on numerous diseases including cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
Additionally, many believe that these cuts could hinder the nation’s competitiveness and reputation in innovation. Universities have already begun curtailing spending and staff due to funding reductions, with institutions like Johns Hopkins University eliminating nearly 2,000 jobs after the cancellation of important grants. Some critics warn that the cuts will have long-term detrimental effects on public health, research and the academic workforce.
Redefinition of Gender Policies
Under the recent executive order “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government,” the White House will only recognize two genders, stating that some individuals “self-identify as women and gain access to intimate single-sex spaces and activities designed for women, from women’s domestic abuse shelters to women’s workplace showers.”
The EO goes on to state that gender ideology is a false concept that allows for people to make dangerous claims under the “ever-shifting concept of self-assessed gender identity.” It mandates that all federal agencies, departments and contractors must use biological sex in policies regarding access in numerous public areas. This means federal records, passports and legal documents will no longer recognize non-binary or transgender gender individuals’ gender preferences as valid.
The policy’s effect on gender non-confirming people’s access to healthcare, legal recognition and protection against discrimination has been a central point of numerous critiques. Advocacy groups and legal experts have criticized the redefinition of gender policies, arguing that it disregards the identities and rights of transgender and non-binary individuals. They believe it enforces a binary understanding of gender that could lead to further discrimination and exclusion of marginalized communities from essential services and protections.