Here’s how the Trump administration has undone Biden’s very prized DEI programs

President Donald Trump wasted no time in dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the federal government during his first week in office. Just hours after taking the Oath of Office on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, the president signed an executive order eliminating all DEI programs from the federal government. This move sent shockwaves through agencies and departments, as they were directed to close all DEI offices and place government workers in those offices on paid leave.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) was tasked with notifying heads of agencies and departments to begin the process of closing DEI offices by the end of the day on Wednesday. This abrupt decision forced DEI offices to take down all outward facing media, withdraw any pending documents, directives, and equity plans, and cancel current and impending contracts related to DEI initiatives.

President Trump also made it clear that the U.S. government would only recognize two genders: male and female, as he signed an executive order making it the official policy of the nation. Additionally, he issued executive actions to end discrimination in the workplace and higher education based on race and sex, under the guise of DEI.

In a bold move, Trump rescinded former President Joe Biden’s policy that prioritized DEI hiring at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The president directed the secretary of transportation and FAA administrator to halt Biden’s DEI hiring programs and return to merit-based hiring practices.

Furthermore, Trump required a review of all agency employees in critical safety positions at the FAA to ensure that individuals demonstrated adequate capability for ensuring flight safety and efficiency. The memo emphasized the importance of hiring, promoting, and treating employees based on individual capability, competency, achievement, and dedication.

As a ripple effect of the president’s actions, many private sector companies followed suit in canceling their DEI programs. Meta, McDonald’s, Walmart, Ford Motor Co., John Deere, Lowe’s, Toyota, IBM, Gannett, and Constellation Brands Inc. were among the companies that made changes to their DEI policies in response to Trump’s directives.

In addition to targeting DEI initiatives, the Trump administration also addressed federal funding for DEI programs in K-12 schools. The Department of Education warned state education departments to remove DEI policies or risk losing federal funding. The move aimed to eliminate any discriminatory treatment and indoctrination based on gender ideology and equity ideology in schools.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) also rolled back a policy implemented during Biden’s term that promoted DEI as an integral part of the scientific process. The agency rescinded grants related to DEI, including funding for programs focused on “queering the curriculum” for family medicine doctors.

Multiple federal agencies, including the Departments of Treasury, Interior, and Veterans Affairs, dropped LinkedIn contracts over the business social network’s embrace of DEI. This decision was in line with the president’s executive orders banning federal agencies from contracting with companies that support DEI policies.

Overall, President Trump’s swift actions to shut down DEI offices and initiatives across the federal government sent a clear message about his administration’s stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The move prompted a domino effect in the private sector and signaled a shift towards merit-based hiring practices and non-discriminatory treatment in various sectors.