Trump DEI Fallout

Following President Trump’s crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, numerous federal agencies have started removing online resources supporting underrepresented groups.

In adherence to Trump’s directive, agencies have also cancelled DEI-related training programs and service contracts. Trump has mandated that all DEI staff be placed on paid leave, ultimately leading to layoffs.

Websites of agencies such as the Office of Personnel Management, the State Department, and the Department of Homeland Security have removed DEI documents. Links previously directing to DEI pages now show “Page Not Found — 404” errors or indicate archived content.

These materials were designed to aid in diverse workforce recruitment and foster employee inclusivity. Critics fear these changes could drastically alter hiring practices and reinstate discriminatory methods.

Among the removed resources was a webpage dedicated to the Inaugural Treasury Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, established during the Biden administration. Georgetown law professor Dorothy Brown, a committee member, highlighted the order’s wide-ranging effects on workforce diversity.

“Conservatives argue it’s wrong to target individuals based on race – yet that’s precisely what Trump is doing,” she stated.

On Wednesday, the State Department dismantled its Office of Diversity and Inclusion, removing its website link. Established by former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, this office had produced reports outlining strategies for attracting minority and female candidates.

The Education Department announced Thursday that it had removed or archived hundreds of guidance documents, reports, and training materials. Over 200 pages, once offering diversity, equity, and inclusion resources for K-12 schools and colleges, were removed. The department cancelled over $2.6 million in DEI training and service contracts.

Removed materials included resources like “Resources for LGBTQI+ Students,” an overview of civil rights laws concerning discrimination, and guidance on “Avoid the Discriminatory Use of Artificial Intelligence.”

An Education Department statement described the deleted pages as promoting “harmful ideological programs.”

Trump has labeled DEI programs as “discrimination,” advocating for strictly “merit-based” hiring.

Conservative groups have applauded the changes. Parents Defending Education, which has challenged school diversity initiatives legally, praised Trump’s actions to “permanently eliminate these programs.”

Attacks on DEI frequently target pipeline programs, which don’t alter hiring standards but encourage recruiters to broaden their applicant pools, such as by reaching out to historically Black colleges, explained Antonio Ingram, senior counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He noted that current racial and gender disparities are historical consequences of excluding women and people of color, not arbitrary outcomes.

He predicted the long-term impact of eliminating these programs and policies on creating a diverse government workforce.

“Generations will be unaware of missed opportunities due to this erasure, revision, and redirection of federal resources,” he said. “The true tragedy is the loss of tools that could have fostered greater belonging and justice.”

At schools, advocates claim this crackdown will eliminate resources vital for historically disadvantaged students’ success, including tools helping teachers address achievement gaps and classroom biases.

The Education Department’s now-defunct bodies include the Diversity & Inclusion Council (established under President Obama) and the Employee Engagement Diversity Equity Inclusion Accessibility Council (housed under its Office for Civil Rights).

The department’s Equity Action Plan, enacted under President Biden, has also been withdrawn. The plan aimed to improve college access, affordability, and completion rates for underserved students, advance equity in career and technical education, and increase mental health resources for disadvantaged youth.