On Monday, January 20, 2025, the same day he took office, President Donald Trump signed executive orders rescinding protections for transgender individuals and discontinuing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government. These actions align with his campaign commitments to eliminate what he terms “social engineering” related to race and gender in public and private sectors.
The Washington Post reports that Trump’s Office of Personnel Management sent out a memorandum ordering federal agency heads to inform all employees of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Offices to place all employees on paid leave no later than 5pm Wednesday, and to create a plan for a “reduction in force”—government speak for a mass layoff.
Furthermore, agency heads are to interrogate employees whether “they know of any efforts to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language.”
Trump ordered plans to fire all federal workers involved in diversity initiatives and to shutter the programs without exception.
According to WBAL TV 11 in Baltimore, one executive order redefines the federal government’s recognition of sex, limiting it to two immutable categories: male and female. This classification is determined by an individual’s reproductive anatomy at birth, specifically the presence of eggs or sperm. Consequently, federal institutions such as prisons and shelters are mandated to segregate individuals based on this definition. Additionally, the order prohibits the allocation of federal funds for gender transition services, including surgeries and hormone therapies. It also removes requirements for federal facilities and workplaces to use pronouns aligning with an individual’s gender identity, citing First Amendment rights concerning freedom of speech and religion.
Another executive order terminates DEI initiatives across federal agencies. The administration argues that these programs, which were designed to promote equitable environments for historically marginalized communities, contravene constitutional principles by instituting preferences based on race, gender, and sexual orientation. This move reflects a broader objective to establish a merit-based system within federal employment practices, says Business Insider.
Civil rights organizations have announced intentions to legally challenge these orders. Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign, stated, “We are not going anywhere, and we will fight back against these harmful provisions with everything we’ve got.” Maya Wiley, President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, criticized the policies as regressive, asserting that they undermine decades of progress in civil and human rights.
These executive actions represent a significant policy shift from the previous administration, which had implemented measures to protect transgender rights and promote diversity within federal employment. The current administration’s stance underscores a return to traditional definitions of sex and a focus on merit-based employment practices, marking a departure from the inclusivity efforts of prior years.
Headline photo: Donald Trump at CPAC by Gage Skidmore
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