Posted on January 21, 2025

Trump Rolls Back DEI Programs for Federal Workers

Emily Peck, Axios, January 20, 2025

President Trump signed an executive order Monday dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within the federal government.

Why it matters: The U.S. government is the largest employer in the country, with 3 million workers — nearly twice as many as private sector job leader Walmart, which also recently rolled back its DEI policies.

  • Federal policies set the tone at the top for workplaces around the country.

The big picture: The president and his allies, particularly White House adviser Stephen Miller, have been outspoken critics of DEI — helping drive the wider backlash in the private sector.

  • Though the executive order is limited to the federal government, a Trump official reportedly said more actions on DEI are coming soon that would impact private business.

Zoom in: The order calls for the “termination” of all DEI programs in the federal government, including in employment procedures, union contracts or training policies.

  • All DEI positions should also be terminated, the order says, within 60 days — including all federal chief diversity officers.

Catch up quick: The Trump order rolls back Biden actions that put many diversity initiatives in place.

  • Through Biden’s orders, the administration had prioritized collecting workforce demographic data, recruiting folks from underserved communities, evaluating hiring practices through a diversity lens and addressing pay inequities.

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