Former President Donald Trump intensified efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, urging private businesses to eliminate “illegal DEI discrimination” and instructing government agencies to investigate compliance in the private sector.
On Tuesday, Trump issued an executive order revoking decades-old policies on equal employment opportunities and diversity initiatives, including those for federal contractors. Agencies were directed to identify up to nine major organizations—such as corporations, nonprofits, and universities—for potential civil compliance investigations.
The order follows Trump’s Monday actions to terminate federal DEI programs aimed at promoting opportunities for women, minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other underrepresented groups. Civil rights advocates argue such programs address structural inequities.
Trump also halted a Biden-era initiative promoting DEI in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He instructed the FAA to immediately end diversity hiring practices and conduct a safety review, replacing employees who fail to meet competence standards.
“President Trump is terminating this illegal and dangerous program and ensuring all FAA hiring prioritizes passenger safety and job excellence,” the White House stated.
The measures signal Trump’s broader push to roll back diversity initiatives across public and private sectors. Details on enforcing compliance investigations remain unclear.
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